Men caught smuggling 400kg of drugs to see out life sentences



Two men who were sentenced to life in prison by Dubai Criminal Court for possessing more than 400 kilograms of amphetamines to sell must see out their jail terms.
In court, a Syrian lorry driver, 33, denied planning to sell the drugs and said he was asked to deliver the amphetamines to Saudi Arabia in return for money.

He said his co-accused was innocent of the charges and had no knowledge of the drugs in the lorry.
"I'm not guilty, I'm not connected to the drugs in any way," said the 40-year-old second defendant.
Police were tipped-off about the driver and, after surveying them, arrested the two accused on September 23 last year.

"We found the drugging pills hidden in the driver's lorry in a very careful way," said a police lieutenant, 31.
The police lieutenant said the men initially refused to unlock the doors of the lorry when the arresting officers stopped them in Ras Al Khor.
"We had to smash the windows to gain access and apprehend them," he said.
Police found 412 kgs of the drugging tablets.
The pair were convicted and sentenced to life in prison but sought reduced sentences at Dubai Court of Appeal.

The court rejected their plea and upheld the sentence. They will be deported after serving their terms.

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