The city's most senior narcotics officer said ninety seven consumers have been arrested in the primary a few months of 2019 – up from just two in the identical time period last 12 months – generally at border entry factors.

Sentences for drug trafficking can consist of the Demise penalty and possession of even the smallest amount of unlawful medicine can lead to a minimum amount 4-yr jail sentence.

“Medications continue to pose an excellent problem for all governments and organisations which new method of getting drugs has a short while ago surfaced," he mentioned.

Loved ones have said Hood was so frightened and drained that he agreed to sign a confession, penned in Arabic, not being aware of he had admitted to this kind of really serious crimes.

Cannabis utilization of any variety is just not tolerated inside the UAE. Any one uncovered to be in possession of weed in Dubai – which includes getting it in their system – is liable to deal with jail time along with a hefty great, while right until not long ago expats confronted speedy expulsion within the state. 

In a statement to his lawyers, Hood stated: "I have generally experienced a zero-tolerance on any prescription drugs or more info illegal substances. For me for being accused of selling and providing prescription drugs in a country which has the exact same beliefs and values as me is rather upsetting because it influences my future." 

Other important alterations to UAE’s anti-narcotics regulation consist of chopping minimal jail terms and establishing expert detention centres instead to prison.

Billy Hood claims he was forced to sign a confession written in Arabic Irrespective of not speaking the language

The 24-year-outdated claims he was pressured to signal a confession published in Arabic Irrespective of not speaking the language.

“Not only authorized pros but Medical doctors, psychiatrists, social experts and Many others came with each other to revise the regulation and create one which prioritises rehabilitation plus the welfare of Modern society,” stated Ali Galadari, senior judge for the Dubai Court of Cassation.

“The UAE promotes by itself like a glamorous ‘party position’ to foreigners with promoting made to entice over buyers, skilled labour and holidaymakers,” stated Radha Stirling, chief government of Detained in Dubai who helps Hood and his spouse and children.

Hood's mom Breda Guckion, 55, also claimed officers laughed in her son's deal with as he slept on the ground of a jail mobile with thirty Other people and explained to him that if he failed to sign the confession, 'you are not obtaining from right here'.

"And it is vital to claim that faculty staff members are well educated to select up any indications of pupils vaping or making use of e-cigarettes."

A prison scenario would've adopted along with a conviction meant a jail sentence of as much as a decade and deportation for expatriates.