Dubai, scary stuff

I was alerted yesterday by the Jeremy Vine show to the plight of several people who have found themselves banged up in the UAE because of a zero tolerance policy on drugs by the authorities there. Quite right you may say, until you see the details, such as someone facing a mandatory 4 year sentence for a microscopic grain of cannabis found on the sole of his shoe,someone arrested for possession of melatonin anti jet lag tablets,and many more.There are details of individual cases at fairtrials.net.
It would seem that many prescription and over the counter medications that are used on a daily basis will get you into very serious trouble with little or no opportunity for a defence.
They obviously have very sensitive detection equipment, and are prepared to use it to convict,but scarier still is the Swiss chap in trouble for 3 poppy seeds from a bread roll consumed at heathrow.They are banned as opiates.
I enjoyed my visit to Dubai in December,and would like to go back,but I am going to think very hard about it now.
The website above has a list of banned drugs,I think I was carrying at least one of them.

[RichardMannion]

See I bet it's spurred on by this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7253514.stm

Now this sentiment says it all:
'I must have forgotten the spliff,' he said in the interview. 'It was a small amount. Back home I would not even get prosecuted.'

I have no sympathy or interest in the DJ's case. He would appear to be guilty of carrying drugs, and stupidity.Facing the same mandatory 4 years in prison as him because 0.01g of someone elses drugs has stuck to my shoe would however cause me concern.

[Scrooge]

You go to another country it is your job to abide by their laws end of story.

Many years ago a guy that I went to school with was caught acting as a drug mule from Malaysia back to the UK. This was a bright guy who was in need of some quick $$$, it ended up costing him his life.

As far as the OTC drugs, again it always pays to check first with these things.

Unfortunately, this attitude towards legally-prescribed drugs is the reason neither my brother nor I will ever get to Dubai.

I never did like other countries telling me my doctor was wrong to prescribe something I need to stay healthy and functional, but this is ridiculous! Who knows what (or whom) could get onto/into you without your knowledge and put you into the Dubai bailey for a goodly time (or even worse).

If all of the stories are true this is truly ridiculous in this day and age.

You can cross off 'Dubai' on my potential 'visited' list, I guess. It won't be added.

Melatonin?
That rules me out of travelling to Dubai too...

[Darren Wheeler]

I suspect some of the stories are missing vital parts. If they have very sensitive detection equipment, anyone carrying a $100 bill would be nabbed along with anyone comming into contact with any number of substances as part of their job. Police, doctors, customs etc etc.

lets face it, you don't hear of whole airliners full being detain because a poppyseed roll was eaten.

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
I suspect some of the stories are missing vital parts. If they have very sensitive detection equipment, anyone carrying a $100 bill would be nabbed along with anyone comming into contact with any number of substances as part of their job. Police, doctors, customs etc etc.

lets face it, you don't hear of whole airliners full being detain because a poppyseed roll was eaten.

Darren, the audacity - this was on the Jeremy Vine show! [ii]

Darren,I agree that there are probably omissions or exageration to some of the stories,but if just one person,innocently carrying medicine on holiday,is treated like a drug trafficker,i.e.arrested, strip searched and thrown in a cell for however long,I think there is a case for giving the place a wide berth.On balance I think probably this has happened.