Man tried to smuggle almost 5kg of hashish through Dubai airport, court hears

DUBAI // A man was caught at Dubai International Airport carrying more than four kilograms of hashish hidden in his bag.

The 29-year-old Iranian denied a charge of smuggling 4.92kg of the drug when he appeared at Dubai Criminal Court.

An Emirati customs inspector said on the morning of February 26 this year she became suspicious of the defendant’s thick bag.

“I stopped the passenger when he reached the arrival’s check point and asked him if he possessed any banned substances but he denied it. Then I had him empty the bag’s contents,” said the inspector, adding the bag was still heavy so she broke its bottom and found the drugs in plastic bags.

“The plastic bags were covered with red pepper powder in an attempt to hide the smell. We questioned the passenger but he denied knowing anything about the drugs and said he was given the bag by a friend to deliver it to a man in the country,” said the inspector.

A verdict is expected on May 11.