DUBAI // A man caught with more than two kilograms of heroin denies knowing the nature of the substance he was carrying, Dubai Criminal Court heard on Monday.
“It’s true I was carrying the substance, or the goods, but I had no idea it was something illegal, and I was on my way to deliver it to its destination when I was arrested,” said the 42-year-old Pakistani business partner, who is charged with possessing 2.5kg of heroin to sell.
Prosecutors said that, on August 29, the man was arrested in a sting operation after police were tipped off about him.
“We received information that he was a drug-dealing gang member and was here to deliver some drugs,” a policeman, 25, said.
The officer said that the man was arrested after giving an undercover policeman a sample of the drug.
“We questioned him and he told us he gave the undercover policeman a sample to find him a buyer for a quantity of heroin he had hidden in Sharjah,” the officer said.
Police went to the man’s home and workplace in Sharjah and in the latter found a box with plastic bags containing the heroin. The next hearing is on December 19.
salamir@thenational.ae
The biog:
Favourite book: The Leader Who Had No Title by Robin Sharma
Pet Peeve: Racism
Proudest moment: Graduating from Sorbonne
What puts her off: Dishonesty in all its forms
Happiest period in her life: The beginning of her 30s
Favourite movie: "I have two. The Pursuit of Happiness and Homeless to Harvard"
Role model: Everyone. A child can be my role model
Slogan: The queen of peace, love and positive energy
THE BIO
Age: 33
Favourite quote: “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill
Favourite breed of dog: All of them. I can’t possibly pick a favourite.
Favourite place in the UAE: The Stray Dogs Centre in Umm Al Quwain. It sounds predictable, but it honestly is my favourite place to spend time. Surrounded by hundreds of dogs that love you - what could possibly be better than that?
Favourite colour: All the colours that dogs come in
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
