A long-term expatriate, who grew up and went to school in Bahrain but failed to find employment afterwards, is on trial at the High Criminal Court accused of selling narcotics.
The 21-year-old Bangladeshi told the Public Prosecution that he had moved to the country with his family at the age of four, and studied until 10th grade at a well-known private school, but is now unemployed and living with his parents.
“I started using Lyrica three months ago, without a prescription,” the court heard that he earlier told prosecutors. “I was receiving the capsules via dead mail, from a man named Omran, based in Pakistan.
“Two months ago, our relationship grew stronger and he offered me the chance to work for him to distribute drugs via dead mail or dead drops, for BD2 per drop-off.”
He explained that his dealer-turned-employer would send him merchandise and he would be tasked to pick it up, portion it out and distribute it to locations as directed.
He recounted that he was once sent a pin in Manama, and went there to collect an A4 paper that had been saturated with CBD oil. He took it home and, as instructed, cut it up into 16 pieces.
The authorities received a tip from a ‘trusted source’ that a certain block in Manama had drug activity and patrols were stationed around the area to watch out for any unusual activity.
It was after midnight when a policeman spotted the defendant placing items in an empty lot in Manama in such a manner that ‘inspired suspicion’, as the officer described it.
The patrol followed him and carried out an arrest. He was found to be carrying drug-soaked A4 paper and a further three smaller pieces were allegedly later found, alongside three Lyrica pills, in his vehicle.
The court heard that the young Bangladeshi admitted both to selling and using drugs. Traces of Lyrica were found in his urine sample.
He testified that he lived in his parents’ apartment in Naim and that his father paid for all of his living expenses.
Judges are set to announce a verdict in the case on March 31.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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