Dubai Couple Sentenced to Life for Smuggling 4.2kg of Marijuana

A married couple has been handed life sentences and fined Dh500,000 each for attempting to smuggle 4.2kg of marijuana into the UAE. The Dubai Criminal Court also ordered the destruction of the confiscated drugs.

The duo, a 27-year-old Gambian woman and a 35-year-old Nigerian man, were arrested at Dubai International Airport on January 2, 2024, during a routine customs inspection. Officers detected unusual density in the woman’s luggage, leading to the discovery of 4,290.86 grams of marijuana concealed inside vehicle filters. She was immediately detained, and investigations revealed the drugs were meant for the Nigerian man, who was arrested in Dubai’s Naif area while attempting to collect the package from a cargo service.

During the trial, forensic reports, digital communication records, and witness testimonies from customs officials were presented as evidence. Despite the suspects initially denying knowledge of the drugs, the court rejected their defence, citing their use of cocaine and evidence linking them to previous drug shipments in August and November 2023.

On November 28, 2024, the court convicted both individuals of drug smuggling, sentencing them to life imprisonment followed by deportation. The court imposed a Dh500,000 fine on each, with the stipulation of an additional day in prison for every Dh100 unpaid.

Authorities confirmed the confiscated drugs have been ordered for destruction.

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