Police raided flat to find trio in toilet

Panicked drug suspects barricaded themselves in a bathroom and try to flush their heroin down a toilet.

DUBAI // Panicked drug suspects barricaded themselves in a bathroom and tried to flush their heroin down a toilet when police raided the flat, a court heard yesterday. Two Nigerians, identified as EB, 32, and NJ, 40, an Ivorian, JK, 37, and a Kenyan, BM, 24, were arrested in the raid on the flat in the city's Al Muraqabat district on July 13. Prosecutors said three of the defendants made the desperate attempt to dispose of the drugs, but that police succeeded in breaking down the locked bathroom door before they could.

Police recovered six capsules filled with 88.5 grams of heroin and 2.5 grams of cannabis from the scene. Some of the capsules, allegedly thrown by the suspects from the bathroom window, were found outside the building. Authorities did not say which three of the suspects had barricaded themselves in, but EB apparently told the arresting officers that the drugs belonged to him and were for personal use.

All four suspects pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and possession of narcotics before the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance. JK, who allegedly broke a pair of handcuffs, was also charged with damaging public property. The court is scheduled to rule on the case on Dec 25. [e-mail]