DUBAI // A man who triggered an explosion when cutting through gas cylinders to retrieve a cache of drugs he had smuggled into the country has been jailed for 10 years.
Dubai Criminal Court heard that Iranian S H, 50, smuggled 50 kilograms of methamphetamine inside gas cylinders. He then used an electric device to cut through the cylinders, which caused an explosion that damaged his rented flat.
The court heard S H had rented a flat in the Naif area in June last year. However, he did not live in it and only occasionally visited.
Emirati policeman K K, 26, said they had been tipped off about the drug smuggler. K K said: “He told me that another man had rented the flat. On the day of the explosion, the man, identified as S, came to the flat and saw him [S H] cutting through the cylinders.
“He also told me that S asked him about his reasons for cutting the cylinders but he did not tell him what was inside – he only said he received the cylinders at the Sharjah port. S left but returned for his phone, which he forgot. At that moment, the explosion happened due to sparks from the cutting device.”
S H denied smuggling drugs and damaging the property of an Emirati woman who owned the flat but was jailed for 10 years. He was also fined Dh50,000 and will be deported after completing his jail term.
salamir@thenational.ae
