Life Term and Dh100,000 Fine for Expat in Crystal Meth Trafficking Case

An expatriate in Abu Dhabi has been sentenced to life imprisonment, fined Dh100,000 and ordered to be deported after completing his term for trafficking and consuming a psychotropic substance. The conviction followed his arrest while selling crystal meth in exchange for money.

The case arose after prosecutors referred the accused to trial on charges of possessing a psychotropic substance with intent to promote and consuming it without legal authorisation, in violation of Federal Decree-Law No. 30 of 2021 on combating narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

Court records show that the man was apprehended during a controlled operation after authorities placed him under surveillance. Investigators found that he had agreed to supply the banned substance for a financial sum, indicating clear intent to traffic rather than personal use. The seized material was subsequently sent for forensic examination.

Laboratory analysis confirmed the substance to be a prohibited psychotropic drug, while toxicology reports established that the accused had also consumed the same substance.

During questioning, the defendant made statements that were later corroborated by forensic findings and the testimony of the arresting officer, forming a consistent body of evidence against him.

The court of first instance imposed a life sentence and a Dh100,000 fine for drug trafficking, along with an additional three-month jail term for drug use. It also ordered the confiscation of the seized narcotics and the deportation of the accused upon completion of his sentence.

During proceedings, the defendant alleged procedural irregularities, pointing to claimed inconsistencies in the judgment and raising concerns over the legality of the arrest and search. He also challenged the reliance on the testimony of a single police officer.

However, the court rejected these arguments, holding that the evidence was both sufficient and legally sound. It noted that the officer’s testimony, supported by forensic reports and the accused’s own admissions, clearly established the offences.

The court further ruled that minor clerical errors in the judgment did not affect its substance, emphasising that determining intent to traffic falls within the trial court’s discretion, particularly where the accused is caught selling drugs for money.

The ruling confirmed all penalties, including the confiscation of the narcotics.

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