Three sentenced to death in Sharjah for drug dealing

SHARJAH // Three men were sentenced to death today for dealing opium.

AK, JB and ST are all from an African country and were not residents of the UAE. They entered the country on business visas.

They were found in possession of opium with the intention of selling it. Undercover officers posed a buyers and arrested the men.

One of themn told prosecutors he was contacted by the others and asked to sell the drugs to the undercover officers in exchange for US$3,000 (Dh11,000) near a shopping mall in Ajman.

After handing over a plastic bag containing the drugs he was arrested. He told officers about the two other men, who were also arrested.

The sentence was issued at a court in Ajman by Judge Omar Obaid Al Ghoulin - in the presence of a judges panel, including Judge Salman Hafidh and Judge Swidiq Jaber - after a series of court hearings that began in January.

ykakande@thenational.ae