40 marijuana plants discovered at Abu Dhabi villa, court hears

An Emirati man cultivated almost 40 marijuana plants at his villa in Abu Dhabi after learning how to grow the drugs from the internet.

The 46-year-old filled three rooms in his home with the plants and equipment, and a ventilation system was installed to carry the smell outside, a court heard on Sunday.

Marijuana was also found in cigarettes in his car, and a search of his house uncovered more drugs, including 1,977 amphetamime tablets.

He appeared before Dubai Criminal Court charges with growing and possessing 38 plants and possessing a total of 749g of the drugs, plus the amphetamine. An earlier charge of possessing the plants with the intention to sell was dropped.

The man, who holds two masters degrees from universities in the United States, admitted all of the charges and told judges the marijuana was for personal use.

He was arrested on March 11 this year while returning home from Al Ain.

An Emirati lieutenant with the anti-narcotics unit at Dubai Police told the court marijuana was found in the man’s car and, during questioning, he admitted to growing marijuana at his villa in Al Ruwais in Abu Dhabi. He said he lived at his mother’s house in Sharjah.

“When we asked him how learnt to grow marijuana, he said he learnt through the internet and he ordered most of the equipment needed from abroad,” said the officer.

Prosecutors said the plants seized weighed around 380kg, which his lawyer disputed.

“This is not the weight of the marijuana itself, this includes soil, branches, leaves,” said lawyer Saeed Al Ghilani.

“My client studied in the USA where he started using marijuana and when he returned he held a good position but felt sorry for himself for having to go to addiction dens in order to get marijuana. I’m not trying to legalise drug consumption but I’m trying to explain my client’s circumstances,” said Mr Al Ghilani.

A verdict is expected on September 6.