Two brothers and their friend are accused of being drug dealers trying to sell more than 50kg of amphetamines.
The trio, aged 38, 39 and 42, denied a drug possession and trafficking charge at Dubai Criminal Court on Wednesday.
The Iranian friend and one of the brothers, who are from Saudi, are additionally charged with using drugs, which they also denied.
Dubai Police’s anti-narcotics department said it had been tipped off about the Iranian for selling a large amount of amphetamines to a man 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 prosecutor 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 handing a large amount of drugs to the Saudi brothers near a hotel in Al Rigga, said the officer.
“We had both 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 said that the keys are for cars that belong to him, 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 it in his car until the man’s return,” said the officer. When police opened the bags they found they contained 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. Results showed that two of them had been taking drugs.
The court ordered prosecutors to refer the Ford to the forensic lab to collect fingerprints and to confirm who the owner of the vehicle is.
The next hearing will be on September 13.
