DUBAI // A Nigerian man caught with more than half a kilogram of heroin hidden in a box of handbags and nappies had planned to ship the drugs to his homeland, a court heard yesterday.
OS, 34, a security guard, hid the drugs and gave them for safe-keeping to an individual who was unaware of what they were, prosecutors told the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance.
Drugs squad officers received a tip-off that OS, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, was in possession of drugs which he intended to send outside the Emirates, a police officer said. After receiving further information on his whereabouts, police went to the Naif area, where they arrested OS on March 9.
OS was told that authorities had an arrest warrant and he was asked if he had drugs in his possession. The police say he told them that he had heroin that was inside a container at a shipping company destined for Nigeria. A shipping company employee recognised OS, who apparently visited the shop to send items abroad. After the employee opened the container and asked OS where he had hidden the drugs, OS reached inside for a pink handbag. Inside that was a black bag containing a plastic wrapper with a powdered substance that proved to be heroin.
The case was adjourned until October 26.
