Heroin dealers get life terms

DUBAI // Two men caught with 1.5kg of heroin were sentenced to life in prison yesterday for smuggling, selling and possessing drugs.

The two were arrested on December 16, 2009, after the Dubai Police anti drug department received a tip-off about suspects trading in heroin.

A police officer told prosecutors the tip-off they received was that AK, 26, was a dealer.

"We arrested him in a sting operation after our informant posed as a buyer who agreed to purchase the heroin for Dh60,000," said the officer. 

A second suspect, IK, was arrested along with AK during the operation.

Afghan labourer AK and his 25-year-old compatriot IK, a carpenter, pleaded guilty when they first appeared before the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance on May 2 this year to smuggling and possession of heroin.

The men, however, denied selling the drugs, claiming they intended to give them away. 

amustafa@thenational.ae