Saleswoman did not know friend’s plastic bag contained drugs, Dubai court told

DUBAI // A saleswoman broke down in court on Wednesday as she recounted how her friend of eight years abused her trust by asking her to store a plastic bag for him, without her knowing it contained drugs.

Indian saleswoman AM, 22, is charged at Dubai Criminal Court with possession of marijuana with the intent to use but she was released on bail on Wednesday.

Police claim that the woman confessed to having the drug but she denies this, saying that she told officers about the bag right away but that she did not know its contents.

Her friend, SS, 22, is up for separate charges of possession of illegal drugs and consumption.

Police officer AR, 40, said a tip-off was received about an Indian group that possessed and used marijuana, so search warrants were obtained to look at AM’s home and car.

At midnight police raided AM’s home in Al Refaa and a female officer searched her but did not find any drugs. AM denied possessing any kind of drugs to police.

“After questioning her several times, she admitted to having marijuana that she received from her friend, SS, for safekeeping while he tends to his errands,” the police officer said. “The drugs were in a plastic bag, wrapped in tissues and stashed in a small cabinet in the kitchen.”

A urine sample was taken from AM and was sent to the forensics lab to check for drug use.

The police found 22 grams of marijuana with SS when they apprehended him, and the urine sample they took from him contained traces of marijuana, the forensics report concluded.

In court, SS pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of illegal drugs and consumption.

A verdict well be issued on March 30 for SS and AM’s next hearing is on March 23.