Cocaine accused claim they were framed

Five men appeared in court today on charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

DUBAI // Five men who were arrested in Dubai for cocaine possession have told a court they are being framed.

AW, a 54-year-old Lebanese man, was arrested at Dubai International Airport on September 29 after narcotics agents were told he would be bringing cocaine into the UAE.

Officers found 50 grams of the drug hidden in plastic sheets inside his shoes.

In court this morning, A W admitted to the charge of possession but told the judge he had no intent to sell it and that the stash was for his personal use.

A W reasoned with the court that if he wanted to trade in narcotics he would not have brought only 50 grams. "I am 54 years old. Do you really think I would trade in 50 grams? This was for my personal use, your honour," he said.

The charge of possession with intent to distribute carries a life sentence, whereas the charges for possession and consumption usually carry a sentence of four years.

Four other defendants, Lebanese A I, 33, Emirati manager W S, 38, Frenchman H N, 28 and Emirati K M, 35 were all charged with possession and consumption of the cocaine.

All were arrested at the Millennium Airport Hotel in Garhoud after A W told narcotics agents they were his customers, records show.

The other suspects have also denied the charges, claiming that prosecutors framed them.

A I told presiding Judge Hamad Abdel Latif that the narcotics agents had nothing on him so they framed him with the charges and wanted to 'get him'.