Two brothers were found not guilty of possessing and trafficking drugs more than 50kg of amphetamines.
An Iranian man, 49, however, was convicted and sentenced to three years in jail, to be followed by deportation, and fined Dh50,000.
The three men denied charges of drug possession and trafficking at Dubai Criminal Court last August. The brothers, both from Saudi Arabia and aged 38 and 39, denied an additional charge of consuming drugs.
Dubai Police's anti-narcotics department said it had been tipped off that the Iranian man had been selling a large amount of amphetamines in Al Rigga.
"We investigated the information we received and, when it turned out to be correct, we had an arrest warrant issued by the prosecution and managed to apprehend the Iranian as he was about to board a plane from Sharjah International Airport," said an Emirati lieutenant, 33.
During police questioning on May 24, the man allegedly admitted to passing on a large amount of drugs to the Saudi brothers near a hotel in Al Rigga, said the officer.
"We had the two men arrested at their residence in Rigga, but no drugs were found in their flat. However, we found many car keys there and we questioned the brothers about them," added the officer.
One of the brothers allegedly told police that the keys belonged to cars that he owned, one of which was a Ford parked in the hotel car park. He said the others were in Saudi Arabia.
When police searched the Ford, they found drugs in a suitcase in the back seat and more in several plastic bags.
"He said he didn't know where to hide the drugs because the Iranian was leaving the country for a while, so he kept them in his car until the man's return," said the officer.
When police opened the bags they found 1.9 million amphetamine tablets weighing 56.3kg.
The trio were referred to the forensic laboratory, where samples of urine were taken from all of them. The results showed that the two brothers had been taking drugs.
The court then referred the bothers to the Dubai Misdemeanor Court to face a charge of consuming amphetamine after acquitting them of possessing and trafficking drugs.
