TWO alleged Pakistani drug dealers are on trial after being caught red-handed with drugs concealed in face masks, a court heard.
The defendants, a 39-year-old waiter and a 26-year-old baker, appeared at the High Criminal Court where they denied selling hashish and methamphetamine – locally known as shabu.
Although the 26-year-old denied using the narcotics, the 39-year-old admitted to being a chronic addict and also denied the possession of pornographic material on his smartphone.
“I’ve been using drugs for a very long time but I’m not a drug dealer,” said the 39-year-old waiter in his statement to the Public Prosecution. “On August 27, I was having dinner in my house in Hamala with the 26-year-old and the police came, identified themselves and arrested us.
“I don’t have a steady job and I’m married with nine children.”
The 39-year-old told the Public Prosecution that he purchased hashish from a fellow national but could not give any details about the man.
Court documents revealed that a search of the 39-year-old’s house revealed around 302gm of shabu, BD628 in mixed denominations along with 90 Saudi riyal, in addition to a pair of sensitive scales.
“I’m only an addict – I’m not a dealer,” he added in his statement to the Public Prosecution. “I don’t know how the drugs or the money made it into my house because none of it is mine, except for BD120.”
Meanwhile, a Bahraini detective who led a two-week investigation into the two defendants revealed that preliminary information was provided by a confidential informant. Court documents also revealed that upon their arrest, the two defendant’s tested positive for hashish and shabu in their systems.
“A source came forward with information that a Pakistan man was in possession of drugs which he used and sold,” he told the Public Prosecution in his statement. “I led an investigation using several sources and we got a confidential informant to build a relationship with the defendants.
“The 39-year-old told the confidential informant, who said that he wanted to buy narcotics, that he should test out the product prior to purchasing and a meeting was arranged. I heard the entire conversation.”
Court documents revealed that the confidential informant arranged to meet the 39-year-old at his home in Hamala on August 26 at 8pm. The detective also revealed that the man had helped in prior drug arrests.
The case was adjourned until tomorrow for review. The defendants remain in custody.
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