DUBAI // A man accused of smuggling poppy seeds told a court he thought they were spices to cook with.
Indian SA, 45, was detained at Dubai International Airport on May 25 and found with 103 grams of the seeds.
He said he bought a bag of spices without knowing they contained poppy seeds.
"I bought garam masala and biryani spices," the defendant told the court through a translator.
"I didn't know they were poppy seeds. I bought spices and thought they were spices unknowing about their true nature."
He denied a charge of smuggling and possessing drugs at Dubai Criminal Court.
A police officer said the Indian had admitted to knowing they were poppy seeds.
"I searched his luggage and found a plastic bag containing the seeds. I asked him about their nature and he said they were poppy seeds and that he brought them to cook with them," said Emirati policewoman AM, 30.
Prosecutors said the seeds were ready to be planted and said the defendant had confessed to bringing them to the UAE for purposes of consumption.
A verdict is expected on September 24.
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What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
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