DUBAI // A 10-year jail sentence for a Nigerian arrested after meeting a woman carrying more than five kilograms of heroin has been overturned by the Dubai Court of Appeal.
On November 3 last year, the 33-year-old was placed under surveillance by anti-narcotics officers after they were tipped off that he was dealing drugs. He was arrested along with a 40-year-old Pakistani woman at a park in Naif.
“We received information that he was awaiting a new drug shipment from a woman,” said an Emirati police captain, adding that the pair met and talked for a short time before the woman handed the man a large bag.
“He was walking and looking around for her and she was doing the same until they met. They spoke and she handed him the bag. At that point we arrested them,” said the officer.
The bag contained 5.544kg of heroin hidden inside a set of accessories.
Prosecutors charged both with possessing heroin to sell, which they denied at Dubai Criminal Court last March.
In June they were both convicted and sentenced to 10 years in jail each to be followed by deportation. They were also each fined Dh50,000.
However, the appeals court acquitted the man of all charges. The woman’s sentence was upheld.
salamir@thenational.ae
