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A drug courier who tried to swallow two bags of cocaine after realising that he was about to be arrested by police has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined BD5,000.
The 29-year-old expatriate man was caught red-handed after attempting to sell cocaine and marijuana, worth BD150 and BD50 respectively, to an undercover police informant, the court heard.
The High Criminal Court ordered the confiscation of the motorcycle used for the deliveries and ruled that he be deported after completing his sentence.
The Nigerian was found guilty of possessing hashish, cocaine and methamphetamine for both selling and personal use. He admitted to the latter charge, and traces of all three substances were detected in his urine.
A detective testified that the defendant was sent by another suspected drug dealer, who was already under investigation, to deliver the illicit goods to the informant.
“The suspect came to the meeting site on a motorbike, but he felt like he was being watched, and tried to get back on his bike to leave the place,” the detective earlier told the Public Prosecution.
“He pulled two small bags out of his sleeve, containing a white substance, and put them in his mouth, trying to swallow them.
“He was arrested and on his person, we found the two bags in addition to six bags of marijuana, a bag of methamphetamine and an e-cigarette cartridge containing CBD oil.”
Nothing was found in the defendant’s Umm Al Hassam flat when it was searched, he added.
The GDN previously reported that the investigation began after authorities received a tip-off regarding an African national known as ‘Frank’, who was allegedly involved in narcotics trafficking.
An undercover police informant reportedly established a friendship with Frank and gained his trust before requesting to purchase cocaine and hashish. The parties agreed to carry out the transaction near a hotel in the Diplomatic Area, where Frank allegedly arranged for a representative – the defendant – to deliver the drugs on his behalf.
The defendant reportedly admitted to distributing narcotics either through direct handovers or via dead drops, acting under the direction of the elusive ‘Frank’, who has yet to be identified or arrested.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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