DUBAI // A police officer was found half asleep in front of Al Rashidiya police station, holding a bag of illegal tramadol pills and other prescription medication.
Prosecutors told Dubai Criminal Court that the policeman, a 25-year-old Emirati, was seen at 7.30am on April 24 by officers from the station. When they asked him why he was standing there, he dropped the bag and wandered into the road, creating a traffic jam.
A police witness told prosecutors he found the officer holding the bag of drugs.
“His head was lowered as if he was asleep and when I asked him what he was doing, his words were slurred and incoherent. He just dropped the bag he was holding and walked to the middle of the road and stopped,” the witness said.
Police took the man into the station and questioned him. “We asked him what was he doing, but we couldn’t understand the words coming from his mouth. He then spilt a glass of water,” the police witness said.
In the bag, police found an Emirati passport, an iPhone and Dh185 in cash, along with pills for cold and flu remedies, 72 tramadol tablets and 28 other prescription pills.
The officer pleaded guilty to charges of consuming and possessing tramadol and was jailed for four years.
tzriqat@thenational.ae
