A billboard outside a cemetery, originally intended to honour the deceased by displaying their names and photographs, was repurposed as a hiding spot for ‘dead drops’ by a drug dealer.
The defendant used Eker Cemetery, officially known as Shaikh Sahlan Cemetery, and its still-under-construction mosque, to stash away hashish to be picked up by customers later.
The Pakistani labourer was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined BD5,000 by the High Criminal Court, which also ordered his deportation after completing the sentence.
The 31-year-old, who has alarmed the residents of Eker, was found guilty of possessing hashish both for sale and for personal use.
After initially evading the law following a close call, he was ultimately arrested while attempting to leave the country via King Fahad Causeway.
A police dog detected the drugs hidden in his shoe.
During questioning, he tried to dispose of the narcotics in a trash bin inside the investigation room but was caught by officers.
“I received a call about an Asian person who was acting suspicious around the cemetery,” the graveyard’s manager, typically a volunteer position, earlier told the Public Prosecution.
“I was told this individual was sticking something behind a sign with photos of the dead, outside the graveyard’s fence, and also behind a barrier near the mosque that is under construction.
“The items were rolled in packing tape and were suspected to be narcotics.”
The manager added that he visited the cemetery to see things for himself and saw the defendant walking along the fence and then entering a car.
The Bahraini community worker followed the Pakistani to West Eker, where he stopped him and asked about his actions.
The defendant reportedly ‘appeared anxious’.
“In the passenger’s seat, I saw a small bag containing a dark substance,” the Bahraini testified in court.
Court documents stated that the suspect’s car was turned off, but it did not specify who turned it off and why. Following the confrontation, the defendant fled the scene, abandoning his vehicle.
The Bahraini volunteer immediately called the police, who searched the site and found an array of illicit narcotics, including several bags containing a ‘dough or paste-like’ substance.
Policemen also found a bag containing a herbal substance, as well as empty bags to divide and distribute narcotics.
The defendant was arrested while attempting to cross the border into Saudi Arabia.
He admitted to promoting and distributing narcotics, along with using drugs.
Shortly after the August incident, a witness shared a video showing the defendant fleeing the scene.
The footage also captured his abandoned car, with the drugs still inside.
The video went viral, sparking outrage among Eker residents over reports of drug activity in their village.
Earlier in February, another video surfaced online, allegedly showing drug dealers distributing dead drops in Eker.
Eker Cemetery has been frequently targeted by vandals as its lights are not functional.
The area’s MP had urged immediate restoration of illumination, citing concerns that the graveyard was being misused for illicit activities, including the sale of prohibited substances.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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