DUBAI // A man who became sick at a Dubai airport and had to have surgery to save his life was found to have nearly a kilogram of cocaine in his stomach.
The man, 43, from Togo, has been jailed for life for drug smuggling, to which he confessed at Dubai Criminal Court in August.
He arrived at Dubai International Airport on March 4 and was showing signs of pain, after which he was referred to hospital where he had an operation.
Sixty-one capsules containing 895 grams of cocaine were taken from his stomach.
The man told police that he did not know what was in the capsules he was carrying, but an Emirati man promised him US$5,600 (Dh20,560) for smuggling the drugs in.
He was fined Dh50,000 and will be deported after serving his term, but can appeal within 15 days. Life sentences in the UAE are 25 years.
salamir@thenational.ae
