A 35-year-old Nigerian man and his 27-year-old Gambian wife have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Dubai Criminal Court for attempting to smuggle 4.2 kilograms of marijuana into the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The couple was also fined Dh500,000 each, with the court ruling that failure to pay would result in additional prison time.
The incident unfolded on January 2, at Dubai International Airport during a routine customs inspection. Customs officers detected an unusual density in the woman's luggage, leading to the discovery of marijuana concealed within vehicle filters.
The Nigerian man was subsequently arrested in Dubai's Naif area while attempting to collect the package from a cargo service.
During the trial, the court examined extensive evidence, including forensic reports, digital communications linking the couple to the shipment, and testimonies from customs officials. Despite their initial denial of knowledge about the drugs, the court found their defense implausible, particularly given evidence of cocaine use and their involvement in previous drug shipments in August and November of the prior year.
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