Heroin smuggler jailed for 10 years at Dubai court

Tajik woman said she did not know the contents of the bag that she was asked to carry by a man in Iran.

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DUBAI // A woman arrested for trying to smuggle more than one kilogram of heroin was given a 10-year sentence on Thursday morning.

The women from Tajikistan had told Dubai Criminal Court to track down the man who asked her to carry the bag that contained the drugs because she did not know what was in it.

“A man I know in Iran gave me the bag and asked me to deliver it to his friend here. I did not know it was drugs,” said M E, 33, through tears in court last December.

Prosecutors said she was caught with the heroin and 59 methadone tablets on September 17 at Dubai airport.

Major Y S, 38, said there was a tip-off about her but she left the bag at lost and found at the airport.

“When she was arrested, she denied it was her bag at first but, when the bag was searched, a wallet that had her picture inside was found inside the bag,” he said.

The major added that she then confessed that a man named Adham gave her the drugs and told her he would call her with directions once she passed customs.

“Adham just gave me the bag and said a man would come to the airport to pick them up from me. I don’t even know who this man is — Adham told me the man would recognise me,” said the defendant.

A policeman told prosecutors that he questioned the woman and she confessed that she was promised Dh20,000 for delivering the drugs.

In court she did not say anything about the Dh20,000.

She was fined Dh50,000 and will be deported after completing her jail term.

salamir@thenational.ae