DUBAI // Drug smugglers and dealers are big fans of the news, the emirate's top narcotics prosecutor says.
"Pedlars and smugglers follow the news every day and see the deterring procedures and sentences issued against them," said the Chief Prosecutor, Waleed al Fuqa'ai, the head of the Dubai Narcotics Prosecution.
He was speaking as his department announced a 95 per cent conviction rate on drug cases that went to court last year.
Earlier, Dubai Police said there had been a 39 per cent increase in arrests for drug offences in 2009 and a 20 per cent increase in cases.
Last year, there were 1,021 arrests in 653 cases which involved 233kg of seized drugs. In 2008, there were 734 arrests in 542 cases, involving 158kg of narcotics.
The special prosecution department, formed last September, had already seen a drop in the number of cases, said Mr al Fuqa'ai, although he did not provide statistics.
The decrease was put down to an increase in seizures by police and customs officials - and the fact all suspects are prosecuted under a zero-tolerance policy.
Mr al Fuqa'ai said most defendants were repeat offenders, whether they were dealers or users. Prosecutors also noticed that many offenders tried to pass themselves off as medicinal users of controlled substances.
"Some drug users present medical certificates for the controlled drugs they use or abuse drugs that are not listed in the controlled narcotics list," he said.
"We will prosecute any abuser even if it is with a medical prescription. Abuse is not tolerated."
amustafa@thenational.ae
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The%20specs
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The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Nick's journey in numbers
Countries so far: 85
Flights: 149
Steps: 3.78 million
Calories: 220,000
Floors climbed: 2,000
Donations: GPB37,300
Prostate checks: 5
Blisters: 15
Bumps on the head: 2
Dog bites: 1
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills