DUBAI // Two men have been accused of trying to sell Dh1.6 million worth of amphetamines. AM, a 23-year-old Dubai resident and EN, a 45-year-old investor, both from Syria, denied the charges in the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance yesterday. According to the prosecution, the pair were found with 400,000 captagon pills during a police sting. The three-day operation in October last year involved a police informant posing as a potential buyer and an officer acting as his personal driver.
AM met the informant and the officer at a hotel, allegedly to sell the drugs, but the deal's location was then changed and AM unknowingly led the police to a warehouse in Sharjah where the drugs were being stored. A Dubai Police official said he watched the two men load five boxes of the pills into the car before accepting a bag of cash. The pair were then arrested. Prosecutors said the drugs were smuggled into the country by a Syrian man and a Kuwaiti who remain at large.
AM and EN will appear in court again on August 9. In an unrelated case, also in Dubai, a Syrian man dubbed the "The Professional" by police is on trial for smuggling 4.2 million amphetamine pills into the country through Jebel Ali Port and storing them in a warehouse in Al Qusais. Captagon, or fenethylline, gives users feelings of euphoria and increased self-confidence. Some women also use it as a weight-loss supplement.
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Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
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In Search of Mary Shelley: The Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein
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