UAE: Man sentenced to death for selling drugs over WhatsApp

The Criminal Court of Abu Dhabi has sentenced a Pakistani national to death after he was found guilty of possessing narcotics and psychotropic substances with the intention to sell them.

The court also ordered the destruction of the seized products, as well as the confiscation of the car and telephone used in the crime.

The case against the accused was lodged after the Anti-Narcotics Section in Abu Dhabi received information stating that the accused was involved in the promotion of narcotics and psychotropic substances by communicating with a drug trafficker abroad.

Authorities were informed that the trafficker was delivering large quantities of drugs to him through other persons residing in the UAE and who would conceal the illegal substances in different places before sending photos and contact details to the dealer who, in turn, would send them to other people via WhatsApp.

These people would then proceed to the hiding places to sort out, divide, package and distribute the prohibited substances, before sending their contact details and photos so that potential buyers can obtain them.

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In execution of the warrant issued by the Public Prosecution, a police force was sent to the accused's home, where they arrested and searched him. A suspicious crystalline substance was found on the suspect, which after examination turned out to be a prohibited psychotropic substance. The authorities also found a phone he was using to promote drugs on social media.