Cocaine smuggler caught at Abu Dhabi airport has ten-year jail term upheld

ABU DHABI // A Nigerian caught trying to smuggle 3.7 kilos of cocaine through Abu Dhabi International Airport in the lining of his suitcase must serve his ten-year jail sentence.

The criminal court had heard the man was in transit from Brazil to his home country on November 4 last year, when customs officials discovered the drugs hidden in the inside fabric of his suitcase.

The man was arrested and charged with smuggling drugs with intent to sell.

The criminal court convicted him of transiting drugs instead of dealing and he was jailed for 15 years and fined Dh50,000, to be followed by deportation.

He appealed against the verdict. Abu Dhabi Court of Appeal cut his jail term to ten years but upheld the fine.

The defendant also appealed against the ruling at Abu Dhabi’s Court of Cassation, arguing that reports regarding the amount of cocaine he was caught with were contradictory in the case files.

The court rejected the appeal, saying his claims were simply intended to bring doubt upon the ruling.

Hearings had heard the defendant say he had agreed to smuggle the drugs for a fee of $5,000 (Dh18,365).

The man also argued the case lacked evidence to prove he intended to deal. The court said this had already been reflected in the change of charge at the criminal court.

The Court of Cassation rejected his appeal and upheld the verdict of the court of appeal.