Doha
The Court of Appeal is reviewing the case of a drug smuggler, sentenced to 15 years in jail and a fine of QR300,000 by a Doha Criminal Court.
Local Arabic daily Arrayah reported that the defendant was coming from an Asian country as a transit traveller through Hamad International Airport, heading to his home country. The customs officers suspected his behaviour as he looked very sick and perplexed. A full search of his luggage yielded nothing illegal.
But, when an x-ray examination was conducted on the traveller, the presence of a strange object was discovered within his stomach. Since his health condition began to deteriorate rapidly, the traveller was taken to the hospital, where 300 capsules were taken out of his stomach.
A forensic lab analysis confirmed that the capsules contained pure opium that could be mixed with other substances to increase its volume. Investigations indicated that the accused was trying to deliver the seized illicit drugs to another unidentified person within country, the daily added.
