DUBAI // A 53-year-old man was arrested for selling drugs at his fish shop.
Dubai Police drugs officers were tipped off the Bangladeshi was hiding poppy seeds at his shop in Al Ras and selling them to his customers.
Although the seeds are widely used in cooking by south Asians, they are illegal in the UAE.
On December 1 last year, officers raided the shop and the defendant and two countrymen, aged 34 and 42, were arrested.
“He willingly handed us several plastic bags and boxes, in which he kept 5.5kg of poppy seeds,” a 23-year-old Emirati policeman to Dubai Criminal Court.
He said the man confessed he had been selling drugs for more than six months and he was aware the seeds are banned in the country.
“He also said the other two who were arrested with him had been helping him selling the drug, which he claimed he got from a compatriot’s grocery store in Al Sabkha,” said the officer.
The alleged supplier was arrested the following day at his shop and was questioned by police but he denied knowing the defendant or selling him drugs. Police did not find any drugs in his possession.
The trio were referred to court charged with possessing drugs to sell but were not confronted with the charge.
The next hearing is on May 29.
salamir@thenational.ae
