DUBAI // Two sailors and a tourist were jailed on Tuesday for possessing nearly nine kilograms of heroin that they planned to sell.
Dubai Criminal Court sentenced the two Iranian sailors, ages 27 and 24, to 10 years in jail followed by deportation. The tourist, 26, who was also Iranian, was given a life sentence.
The three defendants were arrested on February 24 this year after police received a tip about them.
A police officer posed as a buyer for the 8.9 kilograms of heroin, which the tourist was trying to sell for Dh360,000.
The 43-year-old lieutenant colonel said he was provided with the tourist’s phone number and arranged to mee him at Dubai port at 8pm on February 24.
“They took the money and handed me two plastic bags containing the heroin,” the policeman said.
During interrogations, the sailors said they were hired by the third defendant to smuggle the drugs into the country aboard their boat in return for US$2,000 (Dh7,345).
The third defendant said he would then fly to Dubai to sell the heroin.
In court last May, the three were charged with smuggling and possessing drugs with intent to sell, while one was also charged with consuming drugs.
All three denied the charges but were convicted on Tuesday morning. They have also been fined a total of Dh100,000.
salamir@thenational.ae
