Abu Dhabi court hands death sentence to Pakistani drug dealers

The men were arrested after a tip-of and were found to be in possession of a 'substantial' amount of heroin and cocaine.

ABU DHABI // Two Pakistani men were sentenced to death on Wednesday for dealing drugs.

The criminal court heard they were in possession of a “substantial” amount of heroin and cocaine and professional weighing equipment.

They were arrested after CID received a tip-off about one of the defendant’s activities. An undercover policemen posed as a customer and brought a small quantity of narcotics off him.

When he was arrested, he was in possession of numerous small wraps of drugs, as well as a set of scales suitable for weighing small amounts.

Subsequent tests found he had taken drugs.

He confessed to the consumption charge, but denied he was a dealer. Hence, he guided police to the second defendant, whom he claimed was his supplier.

The second man had been under suspicious for drug dealing before, without actually being arrested.

Police raided his house and found a large amount of carefuly wrapped drugs samples, another set of scales, drug cutting instruments and a quantity of pills. He was also found to have consumed drugs.

The criminal court convicted them of dealing and sentenced them to death because they considered the findings found in their possession enough evidence of their selling activities.

Under UAE law, all death sentences must automatically be appealed by the public prosecution.

If the appeal court upholds the verdict the court of cassation then studies the case to see if it fulfils the Sharia requirements.

The accused have a chance to defend themselves at each stage of the process.