(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

A 56-year-old Asian man has been sentenced to life in prison and fined Dh500,000 after being convicted of importing 15kg of illegal narcotics from the US and Europe in what authorities described as a highly organised international drug trafficking operation.

The ruling, issued by the Dubai Court of First Instance, also included a deportation order to be executed following the completion of the prison term. In addition, the court imposed a two-year post-release ban on the defendant from engaging in any form of financial transfer or remittance to others.

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The case unfolded when a vigilant customs inspector at a major courier hub in Dubai noticed several suspicious parcels addressed to the defendant. The packages, which had originated from multiple locations in the United States and Europe, were unusually heavy and tightly sealed with industrial-grade plastic.

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According to official police records, the inspector raised an alert, prompting authorities to subject the parcels to forensic examination. Lab analysis revealed that the packages contained 15kg of narcotic substances concealed within layers of clothing and plastic wrapping. Authorities did not publicly disclose the exact type of drug but confirmed it fell under restricted Class A substances under UAE law.

Following confirmation of the illegal drugs , Dubai Police's anti-narcotics division coordinated a sting operation to catch the suspect in the act. Investigators replaced the real drugs with dummy materials and tracked the shipment to its final delivery point. The suspect was arrested red-handed while attempting to collect the consignment from a delivery centre in Dubai.

The officer who testified in the case said that they monitored the suspect closely until authorities had enough evidence. The suspect walked into the trap without realising he had been under surveillance.

The man initially denied the charges during interrogation and trial, claiming he had no knowledge of the contents of the parcels. However, prosecutors presented strong evidence, including surveillance footage, forensic reports, and customs records linking him directly to the shipments.

The Court of First Instance found the evidence against the defendant overwhelming and sentenced him to life in prison. The verdict was later upheld by the Dubai Court of Appeal after the defendant contested the ruling.

The case underscores the UAE's zero-tolerance policy on drug trafficking, with authorities reiterating that anyone caught attempting to bring drugs into the country, regardless of quantity or method, will face the full force of the law.

The Dubai Police commended the swift coordination between customs, forensic experts, and narcotics officers, which prevented the drugs from reaching the streets.“This is a message to all drug traffickers : the UAE is not a transit point or market for drugs. Our systems are robust, and our people are trained to detect even the most discreet attempts at smuggling,” the police statement added.

The defendant remains in custody and will serve a life sentence in Dubai Central Prison, pending his eventual deportation.

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