Nine men – six Pakistanis, one Bahraini, one Bangladeshi and an Indian – are standing trial at the High Criminal Court on an array of drug-related charges which unveiled the intricate activities surrounding illegal narcotics operations in the kingdom.
The men allegedly possessed, sold and distributed a range of substances, including marijuana, morphine, cocaine, heroin, synthetic cannabinoids, clonazepam and hashish.
The court heard that the suspects imported the drugs from overseas using parcel services.
A Bahraini customs officers testified that on July 17, whilst he was scanning items, he spotted a suspicious package that had arrived from Thailand.
Inside, he found an antique statuette containing a hidden herbal substance, later revealed to be 1.25kg of marijuana.
Around 10 days later, on July 27 at around 1pm, a 43-year-old Bangladeshi driver from Budaiya came to pick up the parcel.
When asked about its contents, the man told the authorities that he did not know what was inside it and that he was only collecting the package on the instructions of a man based in Pakistan in exchange for money.
The arrested Bangladeshi driver told the officers that he had been instructed to pass on the parcel. Cash found in his possession was believed to be a result of drug distribution.
The driver was then instructed by officers to contact the man in Pakistan, who then told him to go to Diyar Al Muharraq. When the police arrived at the location, a man, later identified as a 30-year-old Bahraini, exited the house and took the parcel.
He was arrested on the spot and questioned. The suspect stated that he was instructed by a Pakistani man called ‘Ghulam’ to receive the package from the Bangladeshi driver.
He added that he was told not to open it and wait to receive a geographical location for a dead drop where the parcel had to be left. Another person would then go to that location to pick up the parcel.
The officers allowed the Bahraini to contact ‘Ghulam’ and ended up setting a meeting with the next suspect in Gudaibiya.
The parcel was placed inside an abandoned house, where a man, later identified as a 37-year-old Pakistani prayer caller who lived in the area, arrived at the designated time to collect the package and was arrested.
During questioning, the prayer caller said that ‘Ghulam’ sent him to pick up the parcel. A few minutes later, ‘Ghulam’ sent the prayer caller more instructions through WhatsApp, alongside photos of a certain location, where he had to meet a man coming to pick up heroin.
At the location, at around 2.15pm, officers spotted another suspect, later identified as a 23-year-old Indian man, acting suspiciously with a phone in his hand.
He was immediately confronted and arrested by officers and a plastic bag of a powdery substance was seized from his possession.
The Indian suspect was also instructed to contact ‘Ghulam’ for further instructions and arranged a meeting with the next defendant at around 6pm that day.
Right on time, the man, later identified as a 27-year-old Pakistani driver from East Riffa, arrived at the designated location to receive the substance-filled parcel. He was also arrested, and told officers he had to deliver it to another dead drop location.
Once again, the man was instructed by the officers to call ‘Ghulam’ for further instructions, only this time, the suspect suddenly told him he was being arrested, and the line quickly went dead.
After being taken in for questioning, the Pakistani driver identified the next suspect, and the officers applied for an arrest warrant with the Public Prosecution.
On July 29, the suspect in question, a 24-year-old Pakistani driver from Aali, was arrested at Bahrain International Airport attempting to flee the country.
Further investigations were launched and three more Pakistani suspects – a 27-year-old office administrator from Manama, a 25-year-old labourer from Manama, and a 24-year-old labourer from Juffair – were identified and arrested.
Investigations revealed that the men were a part of network that dealt with bringing drugs and psychedelic substances into Bahrain, the court was told.
The accused appeared before the High Criminal Court, yesterday. The hearing was adjourned until June 15 for further deliberation.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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