A MAN is on trial for allegedly attempting to smuggle 66 pills of crystal meth into the country.
The 21-year-old swallowed the drug with a street value of more than BD50,000.
The Pakistani man appeared at the High Criminal Court yesterday for the first time where he denied bid to smuggle the drug.
He was apprehended at Bahrain International Airport (BIA) on September 20 after he aroused the suspicion of authorities. He was subsequently taken to Salmaniya Medical Complex where an X-ray revealed the presence of narcotics, locally known as shabu, in his stomach.
Two other fellow nationals, who met him following a sting operation, have also been implicated in the case. The defendant said he had met a man at his brother’s funeral in Pakistan, who promised to give him BD850 if he smuggled the drug into Bahrain.
“I don’t use drugs but I attempted to smuggle them because I needed money,” he said in his statement to prosecutors.
“My brother died and I travelled to Pakistan to attend his funeral. I met a Pakistani man who offered money for smuggling drugs into Bahrain.
“I swallowed 66 pills of shabu, but was arrested at BIA.”
An official at BIA said the defendant aroused his suspicion as he was sweating profusely and appeared tensed. The trial has been adjourned until Sunday for review.
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