Beware Dubai? - Ajarn Forum

Welshman · 8th February 2008, 07:48

I picked this story up this morning. It's seems hardly credible but thought to post here as many expats pass through this place.

In fact, I'll be passing through on the 18th of this month.

Briton jailed for four years in Dubai after customs find cannabis weighing less than a grain of sugar under his shoe

A father-of-three who was found with a microscopic speck of cannabis stuck to the bottom of one of his shoes has been sentenced to four years in a Dubai prison.
Keith Brown, a council youth development officer, was travelling through the United Arab Emirates on his way back to England when he was stopped as he walked through Dubai's main airport.

A search by customs officials uncovered a speck of cannabis weighing just 0.003g - so small it would be invisible to the naked eye and weighing less than a grain of sugar - on the tread of one of his shoes.

Dubai International Airport is a major hub for the Middle East and thousands of Britons pass through it every year to holiday in the glamorous beach and shopping haven.

But many of those tourists and business travellers are likely to be unaware of the strict zero-tolerance drugs policy in the UAE.

One man has even been jailed for possession of three poppy seeds left over from a bread roll he ate at Heathrow Airport. Painkiller codeine is also banned.

Last night campaign group Fair Trials International advised visitors to Dubai and Abu Dhabi to "take extreme caution".

Chief Executive Catherine Wolthuizen said: "We have seen a steep increase in such cases over the last 18 months.

"Customs authorities are using highly sensitive new equipment to conduct extremely thorough searches on travellers and if they find any amount - no matter how minute - it will be enough to attract a mandatory four-year prison sentence."

Briton jailed for four years in Dubai after customs find cannabis weighing less than a grain of sugar under his shoe | the Daily Mail

tomcat · 8th February 2008, 07:53

You're right, W...it doesn't seem credible. After the rape of the French boy and the subsequent broughaha, I would think Dubai authorities would not want to engage in such foolishness....on the other hand, remember where Dubai is.

Is the Daily Mail a tabloid?

IsaanAlex · 8th February 2008, 08:06

Quote:

One man has even been jailed for possession of three poppy seeds left over from a bread roll he ate at Heathrow Airport.

WTF!

IA

columbia · 8th February 2008, 08:13

Looking at his picture on the link I'm ashamed that anybody could mistake that man for a toker.

Nickyboy · 8th February 2008, 09:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welshman

"Customs authorities are using highly sensitive new equipment to conduct extremely thorough searches on travellers and if they find any amount - no matter how minute - it will be enough to attract a mandatory four-year prison sentence."

Fucking stupid cunts.

Capricious · 8th February 2008, 09:37

This can't be true. At least I hope not.

columbia · 8th February 2008, 09:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickyboy

Fucking stupid cunts.

No Nicky. Say what you really think mate. Don't hold back.

zehner · 8th February 2008, 09:47

further proof of the perils of cannabis. must remember to shower and strip naked before i go through dubai customs

goo_stewart · 8th February 2008, 10:16

On a more serious point, Welshman why are you reading the Daily Mail???? I thought this was the preserve of strange people who gallop in the woods at the weekend and MPs who stick oranges in their mouths and wear stockings (ALWAYS from the right of our political spectrum). I am certainly surprised that a teacher in Bangkok reads this stuff.

Did I mention that my family read this paper everyday until they moved to France a few years ago? Might be why I turned out strange........

8ball · 8th February 2008, 10:17

Crazy fuxxing ragheads innit

Welshman · 8th February 2008, 10:24

[quote=goo_stewart]On a more serious point, Welshman why are you reading the Daily Mail???? quote]

On a more serious point? This is relevant?
-----
On a more serious note, it does say in the full article that the guy was a rastafarian.

Not sure if this indicates that they're working on 'suss', i.e. anyone who appears to be that kind of person who might indulge.

But, most worryingly, is that this stuff was on the underside of his shoe which means he could have picked it up anywhere.

I have to depart from Suvarnabhumi on the 18th and lord knows how many people from all persuasions have been walking around in that terminal. Which means that anyone could, unwittingly, pick up something like that on their shoes.

columbia · 8th February 2008, 10:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welshman

But, most worryingly, is that this stuff was on the underside of his shoe which means he could have picked it up anywhere.

I have to depart from Suvarnabhumi on the 18th and lord knows how many people from all persuasions have been walking around in that terminal. Which means that anyone could, unwittingly, pick up something like that on their shoes.

That's my take on it. There must be more to the story than that.

re_fuse · 8th February 2008, 10:40

Bloody Hell

Quote:

Originally Posted by zehner

further proof of the perils of cannabis. must remember to shower and strip naked before i go through dubai customs

Don't forget the enema

tomcat · 8th February 2008, 12:50

^...and wear your shoes in the shower

jimbo · 8th February 2008, 13:28

I searched my backpack three times on the train to Malaysia (years ago). The third (drunken) run-through came up with a sizeable green bud stuffed into one corner. Tasted good that.