UAE: Expat gets life sentence for dealing drugs

Abu Dhabi - The man was arrested red-handed when he handed the drugs in exchange for cash.

The UAE’s top court has upheld a lower court verdict that sentenced an expat to life in prison for possessing and dealing drugs.

According to court documents, the man was arrested in a northern emirate as he tried to sell hashish to a police undercover agent.

Prosecutors said the force had obtained information that he possessed narcotic substances for the purpose of trafficking and abuse.

A police officer posed as a buyer and contacted him asking for drugs. The man brought hashish worth Dh500 to the policeman and was arrested red-handed when he handed the drugs in exchange for cash.

The police recovered more drugs from his residence and his blood and urine samples tested positive for drugs.

Prosecutors had charged him with consuming, possessing and dealing drugs. In court, he admitted to consuming drugs but denied dealing the narcotics.