Men on drug charges after being pulled from sea

Two Iranians who nearly drowned in rough seas off Ajman Corniche after flouting warnings not to go swimming have been charged with taking drugs.

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SHARJAH // Two men who nearly drowned in rough seas off Ajman Corniche after flouting warnings not to go swimming have been charged with taking drugs. The Iranians were unconscious when they were pulled out of the water by the Ajman Marine Rescue Unit on Friday, and were taken to Sheikh Khalifa Hospital. Upon being discharged from hospital on Sunday, the men were immediately arrested by police.

Brig Ali Alwan, the chief of Ajman Police, said doctors at the hospital had found traces of drugs in their blood. Police did not specify what drugs. The men remained in police custody yesterday. Colonel Saleh al Matroushi, the head of Ajman Civil Defence, said the rescue unit had placed signposts along the beach, warning against swimming because of strong currents. After seeing the men preparing to go in the water, a member of the unit told them not to, but his warning was ignored, said Col al Matroushi.

Minutes later, the rescue unit's video cameras spotted the men fighting a losing battle against the current. ykakande@thenational.ae