A tourist who tried to smuggle drugs into Dubai by stashing them in his mobile phone charger has been hit with a court fine.
The 38-year-old Egyptian man had landed at Dubai International Airport on a visit visa on January 17 when custom officers were alerted to a suspect package in his luggage as it passed through the X-ray machine.
Officers then hand-searched his luggage - discovering more than 800 pills, some of which were hidden inside a mobile phone charger.
“We found 820 Lyrica and Tramadol tablets, some of which were hidden inside his mobile phone charger and the rest hidden in different parts of his bags,” said an Emirati customs inspector.
The man was taken to Dubai Police’s anti-narcotics department where a medical test revealed he was under the influence of controlled drugs.
During police questioning, the defendant denied smuggling drugs to the country, saying that he uses the pills as personal medication. He also said he took the controlled medicine while he was outside of the country.
Prosecutors did not charge him with consuming drugs but he was charged with smuggling and possessing drugs.
The accused had insisted the pills were to treat his back pain when he first appeared before Dubai Criminal Court.
He was found guilty of smuggling and possessing drugs and ordered to pay a Dh2,000 fine.
He will be deported once the amount has been paid.