A 35-year-old Nigerian man and his 27-year-old Gambian wife have been handed life sentences and fined Dh500,000 each for attempting to smuggle 4.2kg of marijuana into the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The couple, arrested at Dubai International Airport on January 2, 2024, were caught during a routine customs inspection.
Customs officers became suspicious when they detected an unusual weight in the woman's luggage. Upon further investigation, they discovered 4,290.86 grams of marijuana concealed inside several vehicle filters. The woman was promptly detained for questioning.
The investigation later revealed that the marijuana was intended for the Nigerian man, who was apprehended in the Naif area of Dubai while attempting to retrieve the package from a cargo service. The court examined a range of evidence, including forensic reports, digital communications linking the Nigerian man to the shipment, and witness testimonies from customs officials.
Although the suspects initially denied knowledge of the drugs, claiming they were unaware of the contents of the shipment, the court dismissed their defense. Their claims were undermined by evidence that both individuals had been using cocaine, making their argument of ignorance implausible. Additionally, the couple was found to have prior knowledge of earlier drug shipments in August and November of the previous year.
On November 28, 2024, the Dubai Criminal Court convicted the couple of drug smuggling and sentenced them to life imprisonment, followed by deportation upon completion of their sentences. Along with the prison term, each defendant was fined Dh500,000. If they are unable to pay the fine, they will serve an additional day in prison for every Dh100 of the fine.
The court also ordered the destruction of the confiscated drugs.
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