TIGblogs TIG | TIGblogs GROUP TIGBLOGS LOGIN SIGNUP
Fredex126's TIGBlog
Fredex126's TIGBlog
Tourists warned of UAE drug laws .
About this event: El Rabie (Spring) festival
Related to country: United States

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Tourists warned of UAE drug laws,Travellers to the United Arab Emirates are being warned about its severe drug laws which have seen dozens detained for apparently minor offences.
Fair Trials International said arrests were being made over tiny quantities of drugs and over-the-counter medicines.

British tourist Keith Brown was sentenced to four years in prison after Dubai customs officers found a 0.003g trace of cannabis stuck to his shoe.

Fair Trials, a legal charity, said it has seen a steep rise in such cases.

Golden beaches

Possession of painkillers like codeine and some cold and flu medication could result in a mandatory four-year prison sentence, Fair Trials International said.

In one of the most extreme cases, it reported a man being held after poppy seeds from a bread roll were found on his clothes.

In recent years, chic hotels, skyscrapers and golden beaches have turned Dubai and Abu Dhabi into popular tourist destinations.


Many have no idea what risks they're taking or their vulnerability to this very strict approach
Catherine Wolthuizen, Fair Trials International chief executive
Businesses too have flocked to the UAE, which promises a high standard of living because of its oil wealth.

However, while it is considered one of the most liberal countries in the Gulf, the Muslim country's drugs laws are severe.

Last year, 59 Britons were arrested in the UAE on drugs-related charges, according to the Foreign Office.


HELD IN THE UAE
Keith Brown, 43, Middlesex: Four-year jail term for possession of 0.003g of cannabis
Robert Dalton, 25, Kent: On trial for alleged possession of 0.03g of cannabis
20-year-old, West Yorkshire: On trial for alleged possession of 0.02g of cannabis
Tracy Wilkinson, 45, West Sussex: Held in custody for eight weeks for possession of codeine before release
Swiss national: Four-year jail term after poppy seeds found on his clothes
Source: Fair Trials International
Catherine Wolthuizen, chief executive of Fair Trials International, said customs authorities were using highly sensitive new equipment to conduct thorough searches on travellers.

"So many people now travel to Dubai and, as we're seeing, many have no idea what risks they're taking or their vulnerability to this very strict approach," she said.

"If they find any amount - no matter how minute - it will be enough to attract a mandatory four-year prison sentence.

"What many travellers may not realise is that they can be deemed to be in possession of such banned substances if they can be detected in their urine or bloodstream, or even in tiny, trace amounts on their person."

Jet-lag tablets

Keith Brown and his wife had been on their way from London to Ethiopia when they were stopped and searched at Dubai airport.

At first customs officers found nothing, but then a roll-up cigarette was spotted caught in the tread of his shoe.

The 43-year-old, from Middlesex, was charged with possession of 0.003g of cannabis and was sentenced to four years in prison.


I suppose there's a sense of disbelief more than anything else
Cat Le-Huy, held in Dubai
British resident Cat Le-Huy was arrested in Dubai for carrying Melatonin jet-lag tablets, which are sold over the counter in the US and Dubai.

Mr Le-Huy told BBC News he was forced to sign a document in Arabic and was refused a translator.

He said once the tablets were proved to be Melatonin, police took what he described as dirt from his bag and said they were now testing it to see if it was cannabis.

Speaking from inside the prison, he said he knew nothing of any drugs in his bag.

"I suppose there's a sense of disbelief more than anything else. I miss my friends and family back in London and I'm also aware of the other stress this is causing to friends and family.

"As far as my welfare, I'm being treated relatively well and I have to go through the system and whatever path that takes, I'll just have to deal with it."

Bread roll

Aside from illegal substances, travellers have also been held for possession of prescription drugs.

Tracy Wilkinson was held in custody for eight weeks before customs officers accepted the codeine she was carrying had been prescribed by her doctor for back pains.

Meanwhile, a Swiss national is serving a four-year jail term after three poppy seeds from a bread roll he ate at Heathrow airport were found on his clothes.

Fair Trials International has published a full list of banned substances on its website.

The Foreign Office is advising all travellers carrying any prescription drugs to take a doctor's letter detailing exactly why they need the medicine and the exact dose.

The UAE Embassy in London said it would not comment at this stage.






February 9, 2008 | 10:47 PM Comments  0 comments

Tags:
You must be logged in to add tags.


King TUT JR.'s Profile

King TUT JR.'s Friends


Latest Posts
This is causing a...
Rice Sets New Mideast...
Tourists warned of UAE...
Contradicts reality .
Middle East tour diary .

Monthly Archive
June 2005
July 2005
August 2005
September 2005
October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
August 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
December 2006
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008

Change Language


Filter By Type
Events
News
Travel
Topics

Friends
Legal Advisor
******saSSyGurl*****
-SB- Shobuz Bhai
Aalya Al Sayed
Aaron Chippendale
Aart Huijg
Abdallah Diwan
Abdallah Sobeih
Abdikheir Sheikh Ahmed
Abdillah
Abdou Ahad NDIAYE
ADA
Adam Barth
Adeyemi
ADNAN
Agnieszka Tatera
Ahmed Benmussa
Ahmed Hafez
Ahmed Haroon
Ahmed Robin
Ahmed Saada
Ahmed Tayel
Ahmet Akarsu
Ainsley
Ajmal Obaid Abidy
Alan Wu
Alejandro Calderon
Alex
Alexey Smirnov
Alfusainey Gano
Ali Khan
Ali Raza Khan
Alin Zainescu
Aliya Mustafa
Amany
Ambitious Princess
AMEER OSMAN MUSTAFA ELNAGER
Amira Sobeih
Amy Macaskill
Amy Macaskill
Andre Kangni AFANOU
Angel
angelface
Angelic_mystery
Animesh
Anna
Annicia
Annie Armen
Antonio García
Anu maheshwari
Arab Women Media Center
Arif Reza Anwary
Arslan Jumaniyazov
Arthur Yegiazaryan
Ashraf
Aubrey
Bart
Belejit
BEN HUR
BEN HUR
Beth
bharati mamani
Bitsy
Boris Bouquerel
ButterflY
Cam
Cam
Carolina Pellejero
Catherine Kamping
Charles De Gaule
Cheuk-Yan Anthony Fung
Christina Mitini
Christopher Blakeley
clarita zarate
Comdr. Little
costabella
crazydiamond
Dabal Bista
Dabal Bista
Dacil Acevedo Riquelme
Dacil Acevedo Riquelme
Dania Osman
Daniel Bateson
danielle
Denis Duggan
Dennis Dames
diego
Diego Manuel Rodriguez
Dispaly
DOREEN GIZO
Dr.A.Prabaharan
Drbadr
dreamy
dromarof
Dulal Biswas
Dumisani Nyoni
Duncan
EHDTghana (NGO)
Elena Rossibel Muñoz Mejía
ELFERGUI
elixam
Elton Skendaj
Eman Ebed
Emily Davila
enat
Eszter
Evgeniya Donchenko
Faisal Abdullah Memon
Faith Odwaro
Fathima Essack
Félix M. Ríos Á.
FERNANDO CASIMIRO
Franc IS
Francesca
Francisco Huanacune
Franziska Seel
freddy w
Freres AGriculteurs et Artisans pour le Développement
Frida Bender
Gabi
Gabrielle Trenb
Gracia!!
Ha Thi Lan Anh
Hannah Bontogon
Haythem Kamel
Hazza Halim
Hedieh Azad
Henry Ekwuruke
Hermann R. T. APLOGAN
Hoda
HODOMIHOU S.ABEL
Hugh Switzer
Hussein Macarambon
IDRISSA
Iman Ng
Injy
Itai Roffman
IYPF
j
Jacques Buvat
Jalisa
James
James Hallowell
James Moody
janice williams
Janielle Spence
Jarra McGrath
Jean
Jean MUKATSHUNG - YAV
Jennifer Corriero
Jennifer Cottes
Jennifer D. Atala
jill mills
João Felipe Scarpelini
John M
John R. Whitman
Jon Sato
José Ernesto Ruiz-Salas
Jose Menacho Galiano
Joseph-Peter
Joya Banerjee
Juan Diego Valenzuela
Jules RAMAZANI ABEDI
julius kipkemboi Kollongei
JUN TACIO
Kaanaeli Kaale
Karen Löhner
KASSOUM COULIBALY
Katia Overko
keesa
Kenneth Ochoa
Kimberly Bennett
Kirill Konine
Kondwani
kostas
krk
Laila Hirani
Laouini Amel
Lentochka
linda
Lorna Abungu
Luciana Ballestero
Luis Davila
Luke Lieberman
Maged Hassan
Maja Andjelkovic
Malcolm Lawrence
malek alkhashashneh
Mamdouh AlSharif
Margie Brand
Maria Gabriela Altilio
Marouen
Martha
Martin G. Viehöver
Martin Kuplens-Ewart
Mary J
Masatoshi Nagai
Mathias Bolt Lesniak
Matt
Maureen Herman
Mauricio
Mauricio
Maurisey
Mayra Peixoto
Medaer Frans
Mensh
Mensh
Micaela Hierro Dori
Michael Furdyk
Mirco Interkulturell
misscait
mnopq
MOHAMED AHMED RADI ABOUARAB
Mohammed Al-Ghanim
Mohammed Elmustafa
muneer_murshid
n
NaBeeel
Nabil Eid
Nada A. Abandah
Nader Elawa
Nadia
Nahla Mubarak
Natalie Debono
Nelly Nyirenda
Nibal khalil
nicea
Nina
Nora1686
Nour
Ntsiki
Nuradin Alfariidi
Olexi
Olga
Olga Vlasova
Oran Cohen
Pervaiz Tufail
peter kumar
Piyoo Kochar
Prof.Dr. M. El-Gammal
Quirz
RAFT1
Rajendra Mulmi
Ralph
Ramadhan Ahungu
Rana Bilal Ahmad
Rana Lotfy
Rania Ramadan
Raymond M. Kristiansen
Reama Naco
redmamba
Robert Guerra
Robert Tomalin
Rohan Belliappa
Romeion Case
Ron Mitchell
Rose Gill
Rui Mesquita
Sahdya Darr
Saladin
Sam
sanja kazazic
Sara mohamed el zarka
Sarah
Sarah
Sarah Boyd
Sarah Yassine
Sen Thong
Shadi Ahmad El-Aker
Shakil A. Qureshi
Shalala Oliver Sepiso
Shavkatjon Muhammadjonov
Sherein Elzein
Shimaa Shaaban
Simon
Simon Moss
Soloviova
Soufyan TAZI
Soustain Chigalu
Suzanne Bardasz
Syeda Sana Rahman
Talar Kandoyan
Thomas Biebl
Tran Dang Thien Huong
TT
Uday Rosario
United Nations Youth and Student Association of Austria
Ursula Carrascal Vizarreta
veenos
Victor (Mexico)
Waleed
Yara Kassem
Yasser Salimi
Yezen Iraq
Zorica Vukovic
[birra.]
عبد المنعم احمد


181711 views
Important Disclaimer