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Prosecution Seeks Death for 15 Afghans in Sharjah Drugs Haul

sharjah - The Sharjah Public Prosecution sought death penalty on Wednesday for 15 Afghan members of a gang for alleged drug trafficking and possession of 202kg of heroin worth $11 million in the international market.

This was the largest consignment of drugs ever seized in the region, according to Ismail Abu Al Izz, Attorney-General of Sharjah.

The police had arrested 12 of them in a raid on an apartment in Sharjah Industrial Area on August 7 this year while three managed to escape. Seven others who were rounded up during the raid have been released.

The Public Prosecution has handed over the case file to the Sharjah Criminal Court of First Instance which will schedule the first hearing next week.

Abu Al Izz told Khaleej Times the prosecution sought death penalty for the suspects as per Article 40 of the federal law for the year 1995.

Since the case was referred to the prosecution in August, the prosecutors have interrogated all 19 suspects who were in custody and launched investigations with the support of forensic experts. Based on the findings, seven of them were released as they did not have any link with the gang.

“The police arrested them only because they were watching the police raiding the suspects’ hideout. Investigations revealed that they did so only out of curiosity,” he added.

Abu Al Izz said the prosecution has found that all 15 members had played a role in processing, packaging and storing heroin in their warehouse and flat. They had been operating on a massive scale.

Forensic tests revealed that the heroin had been mixed with other substances to increase its potency and fetch a higher market price.

The suspects hid the drugs inside fuel tanks of three of the seven trucks imported by them recently.

The 12 suspects in custody are lodged in Sharjah Central Jail. The three fugitives will be tried in absentia.

The UAE imposes severe penalties for all drug-related offences, Abu Al Izz said. Four years in prison is the normal punishment for possession of drugs, while trafficking attracts death penalty.

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com