Students jailed for smuggling drugs into UAE from Oman

DUBAI // Two expatriate students have been jailed for smuggling cannabis plant seeds and marijuana across the border from Oman.

Prosecutors at the Dubai Criminal Court said American IA, 18, and German AR, 21, brought the drugs into the UAE via Hatta.

Records showed that on March 16 this year police officers searched the students’ car after the two men showed signs of fear and confusion while crossing the border.

“We found six cannabis seeds underneath the seat next to the driver and we found marijuana hidden in the car’s air conditioning tube,” said police officer MJ who searched the car.

As well as five grams of marijuana​, officers also found two capsules of prescription drugs in the car’s coin holder.

AR told prosecutors that two of the seeds and the capsules belonged to him, but denied having any knowledge about the rest of the drugs. IA denied any involvement with or knowledge of the drugs.

Urine samples taken from both men showed traces of drugs.

At an earlier hearing AR denied charges of importation and consumption of drugs, while IA admitted to consumption of drugs but denied a charge of importation.

At the Dubai Criminal Court on Monday, AR was jailed for four years while IA received a three-month prison sentence.

They will be deported after completing their prison terms.

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