Drug smuggler sentenced to death

ABU DHABI // A drug smuggler was sentenced to death yesterday for trying to bring 103 capsules of heroin into the country by swallowing them.

J, from Pakistan, was caught at Abu Dhabi International Airport after security officials noticed he looked ill. He was taken to a hospital where they discovered the capsules inside his stomach.

He admitted swallowing 105 capsules, but claimed he did not know they contained drugs.

He said he was offered about Dh10,000 to smuggle the drugs into the country. Half of this he received beforehand and he was supposed to collect the other half afterwards.

The death sentence, imposed by the Criminal Court, is subject to automatic appeal.

hdajani@thenational.ae