DUBAI // A passenger caught at the airport in Dubai with nearly two kilograms of cocaine has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The American MJ, 38, who was also fined Dh100,000, was stopped at Dubai International Airport just before midnight on June 30 this year when inspectors became suspicious of his thick suitcase.
The bottom of the suitcase was covered with a plastic sheet fixed to the bag with screws. It was concealing a grey bag containing 1.788kg of cocaine.
"I bought it from Colombia and travelled through Brazil then on to Dubai to head to Holland," the man told the Criminal Court. He told airport inspectors he was delivering it to a person he did not know in return for 7,500 euros.
The man will be deported after completion of his prison term.
salamir@thenational.ae
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Water waste
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Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
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Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
