DUBAI // A tourist was caught by police with a “cocaine moustache” on his upper lip after police were told he sold drugs, Dubai Criminal Court heard.
The 33-year-old Spaniard was arrested in May last year after police were tipped off by his Syrian associate, prosecutors said.
Police arrested the Syrian in a sting operation for trying to sell an undisclosed amount of cocaine to a plainclothes policeman for Dh50,000.
During questioning, the Syrian told police about his Spanish supplier. After obtaining an arrest warrant, police raided the Spaniard’s apartment in Dubai Marina.
“When he opened up the door, he had a cocaine moustache as he had just used some of the drug, and we found the drug spread on a Samsung tablet as well as a banknote that was used in the consumption process,” a police lieutenant said.
Police also found cocaine in the suspect’s pocket and elsewhere in the apartment. The Spaniard said he bought the drugs from an Australian man, who was arrested three days later in a car showroom in Deira.
All three men were charged with possessing and using cocaine. On Sunday, the Syrian and Spaniard confessed to using drugs in court.
The Spaniard confessed to possessing drugs, while the Syrian denied the charge. The Australian denied all charges brought against him.
The next hearing is scheduled for August 17.
salamir@thenational.ae
