British tourists charged with smoking and selling synthetic cannabis in Dubai

Two men deny all charges at the Dubai Criminal Court this morning, saying they only took the drug, known as Spice, when they were outside the UAE.

DUBAI // Two tourists have been charged with the possession of synthetic cannabis with the intent to both use and sell it.

British KA and GM, both 25, denied all charges at the Dubai Criminal Court this morning, saying they only took the drug known as Spice when they were outside the UAE.

Their compatriot SK, 24, was charged only with consuming drugs but has denied the charge.

Prosecutors told the court the men were arrested following a tip-off to Dubai Police's Anti-Narcotics department. The informant told police KA and GM had 1,060 grams of Spice and intended to sell it.

After getting a prosecution order on July 10 last year, police approached the men while they were sitting in a BMW in Dubai Marina at around 8pm. After searching the vehicle police found two plastic bags containing the drug: one under the front passenger's seat and another in the car's boot.

The arresting officer, OB, 27, testified that SK was not inside car with the other two defendants but standing a few metres away from it.

Officer OA, testified that after arresting the men, they all denied possessing the drug. "They told me it belonged to another British man identified as FD and that he was the one who placed it there," said OA in records.

Forensics reports said urine samples taken from the three men contained traces of drugs.

The next hearing will be on February 18 to cross examine witnesses in court.