Pakistani and Indian Expats Get Lifetime Jail for Smuggling Drugs into UAE

Two men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for smuggling a significant quantity of a controlled substance into Dubai.

Case Details

The incident occurred on March 29, when customs officials at Dubai Airport intercepted a suspicious shipment arriving from India.

• The shipment, comprising four cartons, was flagged during routine inspections by a senior customs inspector.
• An X-ray scan and subsequent manual inspection revealed the presence of 148,380 capsules of Nervigesic, totaling 71.52kg of Pregabalin, a psychotropic substance regulated under UAE law.

The Dubai Police’s General Department of Anti-Narcotics was immediately notified.

Investigation and Arrests

A representative of the shipping company, an Indian national, was questioned and revealed that he had been instructed to clear the shipment by one of the accused, also an Indian national.

Further investigations uncovered that this defendant had collaborated with a Pakistani national who had ordered the shipment from abroad.

Upon questioning, the Pakistani defendant admitted to his involvement. Communications between the two defendants were retrieved, detailing discussions about the shipment and plans for its clearance.

Court Proceedings

Both defendants were charged with smuggling and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

• They denied the charges.
• The shipping company representative, initially detained, was acquitted after the court determined he had acted in good faith and was unaware of the shipment’s actual contents.

The court found sufficient evidence to convict the two accused individuals.

• Sentencing:
  • Life imprisonment for each defendant.
  • A fine of AED 200,000 each.
  • Deportation following the completion of their sentences.
  • A two-year ban on transferring or depositing funds without prior approval from the UAE Central Bank and Ministry of Interior.

Appeal

The defendants have appealed the verdict, and the Dubai Court of Appeal is scheduled to hold the first hearing on January 15.