DUBAI // The first case involving the drug "spice", which has been available in the UAE for two years but was only banned last month, has been referred to a court.
An Asian man, 22, will be the first prosecuted for possession and use of the drug, which is a synthetic cannabis.
Waleed Al Fuqai, the chief narcotics case prosecutor for Dubai, said anyone caught possessing, using, trafficking or smuggling spice would be prosecuted.
"The narcotics prosecution referred its first case to the Dubai Criminal Court, in which a man is charged with possessing and consuming spice," Mr Al Fuqai said.
The UAE is the first Arab country to ban the drug, which became illegal on June 1.
Mr Al Fuqai said spice would no longer be easy to obtain, and that 5 grams of the drug had a street price of up to Dh2,000.
On June 25 a package from the US was found to contain spice. The owner of the package was interrogated and tested for drugs.
"The man confessed and said he bought the drug online to try it," Mr Al Fuqai said.
He said that since the start of this year, 10 cases had been referred to prosecutors from the police anti-narcotics department.
Spice was meant to be used as a treatment for certain diseases in the 1980s, but was found to have no medical benefits.
"Its use first spread in the USA, Europe and Australia," Mr Al Fuqai said.
The drug causes hallucinations, inability to evaluate distance, panic attacks and confusion. It was added to the banned list on May 9 and the ban took effect on June 1.
Mr Al Fuqai said a Russian man throwing a party at his home took spice and jumped from the top of his building, confused about the distance to the ground.
In another case, he said, a Khaleeji man who had taken the drug was driving recklessly at high speed before he died in a crash.
Mr Al Fuqai said Dubai Public Prosecution, Dubai Police, the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health collaborated to have the drug banned.
salamir@thenational.ae
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If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
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- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
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- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
