2.1kg cocaine smuggling bid thwarted

Security officials at the Dubai International Airport foiled a bid to smuggle 2,116grammes of cocaine through the airport’s Terminal 3 and arrested an African woman who was in possession of the contraband. The suspect, identified as ASK, had arrived from Sao Paulo in Brazil and was on her way to Nairobi through Dubai, according to antinarcotics sources who seized her following a tip-off. She was later summoned into a special inspections room for a thorough body check, which revealed that she had stashed a large amount of cocaine in different parts of her body besides her clothes. Whereas 312g of cocaine wrapped in tape, was hidden on her person, including 736g of cocaine, which was placed under her lingerie. According to competent sources, “After the first check-up, the suspect was re-inspected because of her suspicious movements.” Another 1,068g of cocaine was recovered from her shoes. The suspect reportedly testified that she had met an unidentified person who presented her with a “business transaction” of carrying the contraband to Nairobi in return for $2,000, a return ticket, besides hotel expenses. Meanwhile, the Dubai Police Anti-Narcotics Department has referred ASK to the Dubai Public Prosecution for further legal procedures. On the other hand, the Dubai Criminal Court has convicted and sentenced DI, aged 32, from Nigeria, to seven years behind bars to be followed by deportation besides fining him Dhs50,000, following his attempt to smuggle methamphetamine through the Dubai International Airport on May31.