DUBAI SHOWS ZERO TOLERANCE FOR NARCOTICS SMUGGLERS

No escape for culprits even if only traces of drugs are found.

Dubai - Law enforcement officers are showing no tolerance toward
drug abusers, regardless of how small an amount of banned substances
is being smuggled in, recent cases show.

Customs inspectors at Dubai International Airport, constantly on
"high alert," have foiled three separate attempts recently to smuggle
in drugs. That include a Frenchman and two Iranians who tried to
bring in 0.02, 0.76 and 0.8 gramme of various banned substances.

Dubai Appeals Court judge Mahmoud Fahmi told Gulf News that there has
been an increase in the number cases involving suspects carrying tiny
quantities of drugs, especially at the airports.

"Drug enforcement officers deal with smugglers sternly. When it comes
to narcotics, the quantity of drugs being smuggled is immaterial and
enforcement officers are not flexible.

"Transit passengers and visitors coming from certain Asian countries
have been put on closer and stricter watch, especially in the past
few months.

"Enforcement officers are working to eliminate drug smugglers even if
the suspect is carrying what we call traces of narcotics," said judge
Fahmi. The Public Prosecution recently charged Frenchman, A.J., 27,
Iranian engineer, K.G., 56, and his compatriot visitor, K.R., 51,
with smuggling and possessing 0.76 gramme of hashish, 0.02 gramme of
opium and 0.8 gramme of opium respectively.

In the first case, inspector A.K. busted the Frenchman carrying
hashish leftovers which he found in the pocket of a handbag. A.J.
confessed to smuggling and possessing hashish.

In the second case, inspector R.Z., 24, found that the engineer hid
opium in his suit bag. Records said the suspect claimed at first that
the substance could be very tiny pieces of broken plastic, before he
later confessed that it was opium. In the third case, customs
officer A.M. arrested K.R. for illegally bringing in opium in a small
nylon sack which he inserted in his rectum. He also admitted to the
charges.

Each suspect pleaded guilty to smuggling and possessing drugs for
personal use in the Dubai Court of First Instance which will issue
its verdicts later this month. Lawyer and former judge Khalifa Al
Salman of Salim Al Sha'ali and Co Advocates and Legal Consultants
said: "Law enforcement officers, in general and Dubai customs
inspectors and Dubai Police anti-narcotics officers in particular are
keen to protect the country against drug offenders and maintain a
drug-free society. "They are very well trained and have acquired
remarkable skills in combating drug criminals, especially those who
try to smuggle tiny amounts of drugs."

"Enforcement officers are sharp-eyed when it comes to monitoring drug
smugglers. They have done a superb job, especially in the past few
months during which they foiled several attempts by travellers to
smuggle small amounts of drugs," he added.