Arab expat gets 10-year jail sentence for drug trade

An Arab expatriate has been sentenced, in absentia, to 10 years in jail for being involved in the narcotics trade, Gulf Times reported.

A Doha Criminal Court also directed the man to pay a fine of QR200,000 and ordered his deportation on serving the sentence, according to local Arabic daily Arrayah.

The defendant was caught while trying to sell hashish and methamphetamine to an undercover police officer.

According to the case, the officer was approached by the defendant who wanted to sell small amounts of the contraband for QR1,500.

Accordingly, the officer notified the Drug Prevention Department at the Ministry of Interior to get the necessary legal approvals to catch the defendant while the transaction was carried out.

The two men agreed to meet in Al Sadd one night. Once they reached the site, the defendant asked the undercover officer to get into his vehicle and the two drove around the area. At the same time, police patrols kept tabs on the operation from a hidden spot.

The defendant, though, was convinced that he was not being followed, took the money from the officer and gave him the drugs. He then dropped the officer at place where they met.

Eventually, the police arrested the defendant and more drugs were found in his vehicle.

Though the defendant admitted to his guilt during the interrogation, he did not show up in court and was eventually convicted in absentia.

Courtesy: gulf-times.com