Middle East: Don't Take Your Doobies to Dubai
Travelers headed to Dubai should take a thorough inventory before heading for the airport. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is currently taking an extremely hard line on cannabis offenses. Last week, an Italian visitor was sentenced to years in prison for a microscopic portion of hashish, and this week, a British citizen faces a similar punishment for inadvertently carrying a similarly miniscule amount of hash and marijuana.
On May 31, the Dubai Court of First Instance found a 24-year-old Italian man identified only by the initials "A.D." guilty of smuggling and possessing 1/100th of a gram of hash after he arrived at the airport. The quantity discovered -- 1/2800th of an ounce -- is too small to be usable and so tiny that the fact it was detected at all is remarkable.
A.D. told the court he did not realize the hash was there. "I didn't intend to bring the drugs," he told presiding Judge Abdul Majid Al Nezamy. "I forgot it in the inner pocket of my jacket."
That didn't matter to Judge Al Nezamy, who sentenced the unfortunate Italian to four years in prison to be followed by deportation.
Now a 25-year-old Briton known as "W.H." faces the same fate. He was busted coming in with 0.07 grams of marijuana and "two barely noticeable slivers of hashish," as the Gulf Times put it. Again, the hapless traveler said he had forgotten the drugs were there.
"I wrongly forget them in my pockets," W.H. told the court.
W.H. goes back to court next week. A.D. is already serving his sentence.
United Aidiotic Emirates
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 06/08/2007 - 3:43pmThe United Arab Emirates law is very STUPID considering microscopic amounts of natural plant substances drugs. While travelling to UAE be sure to remember that the dark ages have never ended. There is no place in the UAE for reason, compassion or even just plain common sense.
Dr. Theyhavther Heduptherass
Boycott Dubai
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 06/08/2007 - 12:04pmDubai is moving fast to lure tourism as a replacement for oil dollars. Now is the time to organize a boycott of Dubai. Cruel and Unusual methods are required including protesting outside Dubai embassy and offices anywhere to embarrass the lunatic killers and murders running a desert oasis US Dollars made happen.
The Leaders of UAE Will Rot in Hell
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sat, 06/09/2007 - 1:02amI will never spend a dime in that close-minded totalitarian Islamic country.
Don't visit Dubai!
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sat, 06/09/2007 - 10:59amDubai is built with petro-dollars and exploiting immigrant workers who get treated little better than indentured workers and have no rights. The place is tacky and vulgar as well as oppressive.
Tests?
Comment posted by Anonymous on Mon, 06/11/2007 - 4:06pmI wonder how the Dubai government is obtaining the substances they are arresting people for? If they are microscopic as stated, what about the traces of coke that are found on most US printed currency? Seems like any money they are being sent should be withheld in order to comply with their laws..
re:tests?
Comment posted by Anonymous on Thu, 06/14/2007 - 10:06amdamn right,
I would challenge anyone who supports the war on drugs to come to the UK and find one used bank note that hasn't been in contact with some sort of illegal substance.So that would make two of the major money makers in the world law breakers for leaving the cash in circulation.....................well by Dubai's standards anyway.
A.guy
dubai's final solution
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 06/22/2007 - 10:27amboycott this city. NEVER accept a flight route that includes this place. NOTE: Any of you flying from Europe to India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Japan, whatever, DON'T accept an itinerary that includes this hopelessly stupid place. If you are unfortunate enough to have a layover in Dubai, then STAY ON THE PLANE. Trouble like this isn't worth seeing, and we're smarter than spending our money on such an obviously useless regime.
Dr. Hazard
boycott dubai
Comment posted by Anonymous on Tue, 09/04/2007 - 5:22pmi was there in the dubai's jail, for a tiny little amout of hash forgott in my poket. I know A.D and i was with him in the jail room. He is a very brainfull guy, an italian creative.
Dont go there, they can take you for nothing. Dubay is a dictature...of stupidity.
the director
FU Dubai
Comment posted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/05/2007 - 10:27amI was with "A.D." ;) in the same room. This country doesnt deserve the good image that they want to implement in the world. Even in Transit they catch the people for 0,01g.
This system is so middle age nobody can imagine.
grow up!!!!
Comment posted by Anonymous on Tue, 11/27/2007 - 1:14pmWhat are you people complaining for? Its common sence really - if you know the law of a country then just make sure you obey it. As many people know the UAE does not tolerate drug users so why not check you pockets/belongings etc etc before travel. Or why not just stop takeing drugs completly, its not good for the brain. I can tell all you guys are on drugs, hence all the stupid comments.
re: grow up!!!!
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sun, 01/20/2008 - 8:41amA Canadian national who's job was to destroy drugs was sent down for 4 years because they found traces of cannabis and 2 poppy seeds. A British woman was injected with codeine by Dubai medics for pain relief, but was sent down for 8 weeks for drug smuggling, until they worked it out. During this time she was chained to walls, had dysentry and basically treated like a dog. Codeine is sold over the counter in most countries. Anonymous poster: since they are testing for microscopic amounts of anything, and prescription drugs like codeine, there's a very good chance you too could accidentally be thrown in jail for drug smuggling in Dubai for four years or more. Whether the people who have posted comments above take drugs or not is irrelevant. The Dubai laws are unjust and draconian, and result in 100% innocent people being interred for years, and treated worse than animals. Before throwing your weight around and calling people stupid or accusing them of taking drugs, I suggest checking your facts. Or if you can't manage that, perhaps you could get a job at Dubai Customs? - you seem well suited.
I for one won't be going to Dubai soon, even in transit, and I suggest you do the same Mr/Mrs know-all poster....
Dubai is a deset shit hole
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 06/06/2008 - 8:26amThe Totalitarian dictatorship in Dubai has no problem having thousand of Russian hookers in every street and disco.
The Totalitarian dictatorship in Dubai has no problem allowing the trafficking of human beings(Mostly who have been kidnapped or tricked into white slavery)
The UAE people have no problem with UAE Nationals purchasing underage girls viriginity for around $16000.
Because the UAE Dictators have no Cultural Roots other than riding camels and living in tents.
Now because you ride Ford's and/or have skyscrapers and/or no matter how much you try to imitate the West, you will be always be a lizard eating, tent-dwelling brute.
smoking marijuana is as legal as smoking tobaco,lite em up i say
Comment posted by Anonymous on Tue, 02/12/2008 - 5:24pmI say, drug dealers, especially hashish dealers, throw all you've got at those stupid law enforcment monkeys and do what you do best and smuggle as much as you can and basically fill up Dubai with pot heads.I think thats the best way to change laws around here. I will celebrate the day I can sit back roll a fat joint and smoke high high HIGH
shisha smokers in dubai
Comment posted by Anonymous on Tue, 03/04/2008 - 4:09amthey are hiding the word hashisha , doesn't that tell it all!
Unbelievable
Comment posted by Anonymous on Tue, 04/15/2008 - 3:51pmwe should all boycott this ridiculous country.... even though I used to live there when I was a kid, that was when I didn't know a thing about laws or drugs because I moved to the U.S. when I was 6. These laws are extremely harsh!
Another thing that is true is that airport employees get bonuses for finding drugs, even if the amount found is too small to be used, it is not too small to get arrested for!
Dubai and drugs
Comment posted by Anonymous on Fri, 06/08/2007 - 11:58amThe United Arab Emirates law is a very strict considering illcit drug import. While travelling to the UAE be sure not to poses any ammount of canabis or other drugs. At the airport you will be checked and if found posesing canabis you will face several years of prison.
So in the UAE forget the use of drugs.
Dr. Hermon Mihranian
addictologist
Email: mihranianh@freemail.hu