African sentenced to 10 years, fined Dhs50,000 for smuggling marijuana inside cheese powder bag in Dubai

Mohammed Yaseen, Staff Reporter

The Dubai Court of Appeal upheld a ruling issued by the Court of First Instance imprisoning an African visitor, 24, to 10 years in jail to be followed by deportation and fining him Dhs50,000 after being convicted of importing 800 grams of marijuana in a bag of cheese powder in his suitcase.

The case dated back to last December, when Dubai Airports’ customs inspector suspected a plastic bag inside a visitor’s suitcase during check-out procedures.

According to his testimony, the inspector asked the suspect if he had prohibited items in his possession. When the suspect denied, he was searched and a bag containing cheese powder and other materials was found inside an adhesive tape that were suspected to be narcotics.

The suspect and the seized items were transferred to the forensic lab. According to the lab report, the seized items were 800 grams of marijuana.

The suspect was referred to the competent authorities and the Criminal Court ruled that he be jailed, fined and deported. The ruling was upheld by the Court of Appeal.