30-year-old jailed for life over drug peddling

A 30-year-old man who was caught with 650 grammes of opium has been sentenced to life in prison for dealing in drugs. The Al Ain Criminal Court of First Instance found the convict guilty of dealing, consuming and possessing drugs.
The court also fined the man Dh50,000 and ordered his deportation after serving his jail sentence.
Official court documents stated that the Asian man was arrested in Al Ain earlier this year after authorities found that he possessed drugs and was selling them.
Prosecutors said the man was caught with plastic bags containing 650 grammes of opium at his home. The police also recovered more than Dh13,000 from his vehicle and safe, which he had earned from the sale of drugs. The man's urine samples also showed that he consumed narcotic substances.
The Asian man had confessed to the police and prosecutors that he had received the opium from some people and had used some of it a day prior to his arrest.
The man told authorities that he started consuming narcotic drugs about four months before the police caught him.
He, however, denied the charges of dealing in and possessing drugs when he had appeared in court. He also denied having knowledge about the drugs found in his home.
He said part of the money found in his possession was his personal cash from his work while the rest of the money belonged to his friend.
The court rejected the man's claims and convicted him based on the evidence presented by prosecutors.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com