Dubai: Second drugs arrest of African women in a week

An African woman was arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle several kilogrammes of drugs into Dubai, days after a Nigerian woman tried to do the same, the customs department said in a statement today.

An African woman was arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle several kilogrammes of drugs into Dubai, days after a Nigerian woman tried to do the same, the customs department said in a statement on Saturday.

HT Image

"Dubai Customs have thwarted in less than a week, the second attempt to smuggle over 3 kilogrammes (6.6 pounds) of narcotic crystals... brought in by an African business woman coming from an African city to Dubai," a Dubai customs' statement said.

The woman, whose nationality was not disclosed, said she did not know that the "five plastic bags wrapped in brown tape and stuffed into the sides and bottom" of her luggage contained "the narcotic crystal component also known by the name meth," a cheaper and less pure form of cocaine, the statement added.

On Friday, Dubai Customs said it had thwarted 251 drug-trafficking attempts over the past five months, the latest on Monday when a Nigerian woman was arrested at the airport on suspicion of trying to smuggle in seven kilogrammes (16 pounds) of cocaine.

Earlier this month, police in the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi seized 16 kilogrammes (35 pounds) of heroin in an undercover operation and arrested a Pakistani and an Afghan.