ABU DHABI // A man accused of importing cannabis into the UAE told a court yesterday that the seeds were used as spices in his home country.
TH, from Nepal, said he was unaware the seeds were considered a drug and that his wife had packed them in his suitcase as she thought he could use them for cooking. He denied co-operating with four other men to smuggle the drug into the country.
"At first I thought they were involved because their families sent their belongings with me, so I thought the drugs were found in their luggage," explained the man, "but then I discovered that it was my wife".
Chief Justice Sayed Abul Baseer, head of the court, said the man would not have been able to smuggle the drugs without the help of the other four men.
The case was adjourned to appoint a defence lawyer for the man. The judge did not announce the date.
[ hdajani@thenational.ae ]
