Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

A 56-year-old Asian man has been sentenced to life in prison and fined Dh500,000 for smuggling 15 kilograms of narcotics into Dubai, authorities confirmed. The verdict, issued by the Dubai Court of First Instance, was upheld on appeal. The suspect imported the drugs from the United States and Europe using courier parcels disguised as clothing. Customs officials flagged the suspicious packages due to their unusual weight and packaging. A forensic analysis revealed concealed narcotic substances, leading Dubai Police’s anti-narcotics unit to conduct a controlled delivery. The suspect was arrested on-site while collecting the fake shipment. Despite claiming ignorance of the contents, the suspect was convicted based on surveillance footage, customs records, and lab reports. “This is a message to all drug traffickers: the UAE is not a transit point or market for drugs,” according to Dubai Police. “Our systems are robust, and our people are trained to detect even the most discreet attempts at smuggling.” The convict also received a two-year post-release ban on sending money transfers. He remains in Dubai Central Prison until deportation. ICA/Expat Media
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