BAHRAINI POLICEMAN HELD IN DRUGS STING

A BAHRAINI policeman was among 10 men caught in a drugs sting.

Six Bahrainis, three Saudis and two Kuwaitis were caught in the police
operation, the Lower Criminal Court heard.

They were charged with possessing and using cannabis, which had been
smuggled into the country.

One Bahraini has pleaded guilty to the charges and an arrest warrant
has been issued for a second, 26-year-old Bahraini who has repeatedly
failed to turn up at court.

Admitted

Three of the men were arrested for possession of hashish in July 1999,
in an operation by Bahrain's drugs squad.

The 26-year-old admitted using hashish, which he said he bought from a
fourth man.

Police arrested the fourth man and he admitted supplying the drug,
saying that he got it from a fifth man.

Police told him to arrange to buy more and the fifth man was arrested
when he arrived at a rendezvous with hashish.

He in turn confessed that he went to Saudi Arabia a week earlier and
bought hashish worth BD150 from a Saudi in a coffee shop in Dammam and
brought it back by car over the causeway.

The defendant said he gave some of the hashish to a policeman who took
drugs.

The policeman was later dismissed from the force, the court heard.

Police searched the fifth man's flat, where they found a Kuwaiti
taking hashish, who was also arrested.

Hashish was also seized from the flat.

Three Saudis were arrested later as police inquiries continued.

The Saudis and Kuwaiti were later bailed and allowed to return to
their countries, but banned from returning to Bahrain, the court
heard. The current case, dealing with only two Bahraini defendants,
was adjourned until November 28.