Woman on Dh1.3m heroin charge

South African national was detained at airport carrying 2.2kg of drugs as she checked in for a flight.

DUBAI // A South African woman who tried to smuggle 2.292 kilograms of heroin - worth Dh1.3 million (US$354,000) - out of the UAE has been charged with carrying illegal substances with the intent to export. Bolilowa M, who is in her thirties, was arrested at Dubai International Airport on Aug 12 as she was checking in for a flight to a South Asian country, Dubai Police said.

"Police received information that the woman was planning to transport drugs out of the country and a warrant for her arrest was issued," said a criminal investigation department spokesman at the Anti-Drugs and Narcotics Department. When searching her belongings, police found a bag that contained a set of bed sheets where four rectangular drug sachets were tucked in between the layers of material.

"The drugs were wrapped in tape and were perfumed with a fusion of strong-smelling spices and cream in an attempt to disguise the odour of the drug. If sold in grams, the drug would cost Dh500,000 per kilo," the spokesman said. The woman told police she had been recruited by an international drug gang, who paid her a significant amount of money to transport the drugs and who also covered her travel expenses.

Police said this was the first time that the woman, who was on a visit visa, had travelled to the UAE. The case has now been referred to public prosecution. Transporting drugs with an intent to distribute carries a minimum jail sentence of 10 years. @email:[e-mail]