British businessman denies drug trafficking charge

A Briton found with 1.5 kilograms of cocaine in his possession says the drugs were for personal use.

DUBAI // A British businessman accused of trafficking drugs after around 1.5 kilograms of cocaine was found in his possession, denied the charge and said the drugs were for his own use, a Dubai court heard today.

WR, 36, was also charged with possessing more than 1.5kg of cocaine, more than 300 grams of hashish, some LSD stamps, 17 capsules of Tramadol, 25 capsules of Diazepam as well as partial capsules of other drugs.

He was arrested on March 3, and is also charged with using drugs.

KM, 43, an Emirati policeman, testified in prosecution records that the anti-narcotics department at Dubai Police received information about the defendant consuming and trafficking in drugs. He was arrested at his Al Barsha villa.

"Upon search, no drugs was found on him but he willingly led us to an amount of hashish in his kitchen, and other types of drugs in his bedroom" KM said.

KM said the defendant confessed to him that he brought the hashish from Oman for purposes of trafficking.

The next hearing will be on August 27 to hear witness testimony.