DUBAI // A lorry driver and another man are accused of importing more than 65 kilograms of amphetamines.
Prosecutors charged the two Syrians with importing 65.2kg of the drug with the intention to ship it to a neighbouring country. The pair denied the charge at Dubai Criminal Court yesterday.
“I did not import it but the drugs were found in my rented warehouse,” the 24-year-old driver told judges, adding that his co-accused was not involved at all. “He has nothing to do with the drugs and he doesn’t know anything about this case.”
His fellow accused told judges that he was innocent. “I didn’t see any of this drug they are talking about,” the 32-year old defendant said.
A 36-year-old Emirati police major testified that police were tipped off about the two men hiding drugs in a warehouse in Al Quoz.
“We obtained an arrest warrant after we made sure the tip was true, then arrested the two men on April 21 last year,” said the police major, adding that during questioning the men confessed they received a large amount of drugs hidden inside ovens.
“The receipts and documents of the ovens shipment were all in the second defendant’s name, the duo told us.” He said the pair admitted they were acting under direction from a third man who was serving a jail term in Kuwait for drugs offences and that they were assigned to rent the warehouse and stash the drugs.
“They said they were going to be paid for doing so,” said the police major.
Records show that police found the warehouse’s key with the driver then accompanied the defendants to the warehouse, where the men unlocked its door and showed police officers the drugs.
The next hearing will be on April 25.
salamir@thenational.ae
