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Six men are on trial for allegedly importing methamphetamine from the UK, after the narcotics were found concealed in cylinder door locks inside a package shipped to Bahrain.
The High Criminal Court heard that five Pakistanis and one Bahraini were allegedly part of an international drug-trafficking ‘gang’ that specialised in smuggling and promoting drugs.
One of the defendants, a 37-year-old Pakistani sales representative, has also been charged with selling heroin, and possessing morphine, heroin and meth for recreational use.
Three other individuals – a Lebanese woman, an Iranian and a Pakistani man – are on trial alongside the six men, on charges of possessing narcotics for personal use.
According to an Anti-Narcotics Directorate detective who was involved in the case from the start, his department had received a call from Hoora Police Station in July last year, concerning a suspicious package.
The box, arriving from the UK via air mail, appeared to contain locks which were stuffed with white powder, later confirmed to be a narcotic, the policeman testified.
The package was addressed to the 27-year-old Bahraini defendant, and concealed a total of 426gm of methamphetamine, he added.
When the Bahraini man came to collect his mail, he was arrested and questioned by authorities, and he told them that he was told to pick it up by a co-defendant.
“When asked, the defendant said he received a call from a man outside the country, who asked him to collect the package, and provided him a location to deliver it,” the policeman testified.
“Based on the information given to us by the suspect, two Pakistani men were arrested, and yet more suspects were identified through these two.”
More gang members were reportedly identified, and the Anti-Narcotics Directorate obtained a warrant from the Public Prosecution to arrest and question them.
After the directorate uncovered an alleged chain of command in the racket and apprehended more suspects who were possibly involved, it drew several conclusions.
According to the directorate, investigations found a ‘gang-like’ organisation ‘run by individuals outside Bahrain’ responsible for this attempt.
“Large quantities of narcotics and stimulants are imported from overseas, and handed to members of the organisation, who promote and sell it for profit,” read the report.
“Among the promoters and dealers are those who delegate to secondary dealers, and the drugs are disseminated through dead drops.”
The report also identified a 25-year-old Paksitani labourer, who is accused of being the operation’s ringleader, but he is standing trial in absentia because he has not been found and arrested by authorities.
The labourer co-ordinates the sales with other members, by receiving the stock, dividing it, handing it to dealers and directing its distribution, stated the report.
Meanwhile, three more defendants were charged with possessing narcotics for recreational use: A 33-year-old Lebanese project manager (morphine and meth) and a 43-year-old Iranian cook (morphine).
The third, a 42-year-old Pakistani sales manager, was accused of possessing hashish, heroin and tramadol, along with drugs belonging to the benzodiazepine class: alprazolam (Xanax), bromazepam and diazepam (Valium).
The hearing was adjourned to Sunday.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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