Dubai, UAE – A 37-year-old Syrian woman has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined Dh100,000 for possession of drugs following her arrest in Dubai last year.
The Dubai Criminal Court convicted the woman after she was caught with methamphetamine and tools used for drug consumption.
The case dates back to April 15, 2024, when the defendant was apprehended near Al Qiyadah Metro Station.
Dubai Police’s General Department of Anti-Narcotics acted on reliable information, leading them to stop the woman in her white Ford Mustang at around 8 pm.
Upon searching the vehicle, authorities found 25.29 grams of liquid methamphetamine in a plastic bottle and 1.26 grams of crystal meth hidden in five plastic wraps.
Along with the drugs, tools used for consumption, including glass and plastic pipes, a lighter, and plastic covers, were also seized.
The woman was later confirmed to have amphetamine and methamphetamine in her system following a forensic urine test.
During police investigations, she admitted to purchasing the drugs through WhatsApp, where she transferred Dh500 to a local bank account in exchange for the illicit substances. She also revealed the pick-up location was shared via the app.
In her defense, the woman’s legal team raised concerns over discrepancies in the weight of the drugs between the police report and forensic analysis.
They argued that these inconsistencies invalidated the evidence against her. However, the court dismissed this claim, ruling that the weight differences were due to the gross weight of the drugs and did not affect the net weight, which was used in the conviction.
The Dubai Criminal Court based its verdict on Federal Law No. 30 of 2021 on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, which stipulates severe penalties for possession of between 20 and 100 grams of methamphetamine. The law mandates a minimum of 10 years in prison for such offenses.
In addition to the lengthy prison sentence, the court ordered the woman’s deportation after she serves her term. Should she fail to pay the imposed fine, an additional day in jail will be added for every Dh100 outstanding.
This case highlights Dubai’s continued commitment to combating drug-related crimes and enforcing strict drug laws, particularly in light of recent efforts to curb the spread of narcotics across the city.
Authorities have warned that possession, trafficking, or use of illegal drugs will be met with severe legal consequences under UAE law.