Woman caught with drugs stashed in bag of flour in Dubai cleared of smuggling charge

The tourist was stopped by customs officials at Dubai International Airport in October last year

A tourist who was caught in possession of drugs concealed inside a bag of flour at Dubai International Airport has been cleared of a smuggling charge.

A tourist sentenced to 10 years in prison after being caught carrying drugs stashed in a bag of flour has been cleared of a smuggling charge.

The Ugandan woman, 28, was arrested with her cousin at Dubai International Airport over a drugs plot on October 30 last year.

When questioned, the woman said she had been asked to carry the package – which contained 4.5kg of marijuana and the stimulant khat – by her cousin's mother and did not know what was concealed inside.

She intended to deliver the package to her female relative, a Dubai resident, 32, who was waiting to pick up her up at the airport, she said.

She was convicted at Dubai Criminal Court of drug smuggling in February. Her cousin was found guilty of aiding and abetting.

“I found a bag of flour inside her luggage, inside of which was another bag containing the drugs,” said a customs inspector.

“She told me that the bag was given to her by her aunt who asked her to carry it and deliver it to her  daughter.”

Dubai of Appeal acquitted the tourist but upheld the conviction of her cousin, who was also sentenced to 10 years in jail and fined Dh50,000.

She will be deported after serving her jail term.