ABU DHABI // A former American serviceman is being detained in Dubai after a handgun was found in his luggage as he passed through Dubai International Airport.
The Public Prosecution in Dubai confirmed yesterday that Michael Joslin, 28, of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, was detained on charges of possessing a firearm.
Joslin was arrested on May 9 during a day-long stopover at the Dubai airport. He was reportedly headed to Kabul, where he was scheduled to begin work for EMW, a private security firm.
He said the weapon was approved both by Philadelphia International Airport and Emirates Airline before he boarded the flight.
Stephen Pike, a spokesman for the US Embassy, confirmed Joslin had been arrested and detained, but could not provide details of the charges.
"We are aware of the case and we are in contact with him. He has had routine consular visits," Mr Pike said, adding that consular representatives had visited him on Sunday. "We will continue to provide him with consular services as needed."
Dubai Police also confirmed Joslin had been arrested, and that his case had been referred to the Public Prosecution. The Public Prosecution said investigations were continuing.
No date for his first court appearance has been made public, but it is thought to be in the coming weeks.
EMW terminated Joslin's contract days after his arrest.
"EMW was not knowledgable about his actions and is in no way responsible for Mr Joslin's decision to transport a firearm and prescription to Dubai and Afghanistan, which violated EMW's stated company policies," it said in a statement.
"The contract on which Mr Joslin was scheduled to work in Afghanistan on behalf of EMW itself strictly prohibits contractor personnel from carrying firearms in theatre."
His family, meanwhile, is appealing for his release.
"He's ready to break," Joanne Joslin, his wife, told The Delaware County Daily Times. "He's not really doing all right."
The couple have a two-and-a-half-month-old child, while Mr Joslin also is a stepfather to his wife's two children.
Joslin, who enlisted in the US air force after the September 11 attacks, told the Daily Times he was not aware of the restrictions on carrying firearms in his contract.
"I didn't read my contract very thoroughly," Mr Joslin said.
He was released on bail after nine days - at which time he surrendered his passport - but detained again after a urine test found banned prescription drugs in his system, according to the Daily Times.
He said he was taking pain medication for a back injury suffered in a recent car accident.
The US State Department warns travellers of the UAE's drug laws.
"Some drugs normally taken under a doctor's supervision in the United States, and even some over-the-counter US drugs and medications, are classified as narcotics in the UAE and are illegal to possess," it says on its website.
It also warns UAE authorities will confiscate any weapons transported through a civilian airport. "Americans have been arrested and jailed for transporting such weapons and equipment without the express written authorisation of the UAE Government, even though airline and US authorities allowed shipment on a US-originating flight," it says.
In the US it is legal to carry firearms and ammunition in hold luggage, as long as the weapons are properly packed and declared to the airline during check-in.
Emirates Airline's guidelines, published on its website, state that dangerous goods require airline approval. Firearms must be transported in a locked, hard-sided container. However, a different part of the website warns: "For transfer and transit passengers who are connecting to onward flights, prior clearance to travel with firearms and ammunition must be obtained from the Dubai Airport Police Department and the Department of Civil Aviation."
lmorris@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting by Salam Hafez
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COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The biog:
From: Wimbledon, London, UK
Education: Medical doctor
Hobbies: Travelling, meeting new people and cultures
Favourite animals: All of them
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Alaves 1 (Perez 65' pen)
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6. Annika Sande (NOR) atop For Cash 2 - 31.42 seconds (4 penalties)
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