Appeals Court Jails Five for Running Secret Marijuana Farm in Bahrain

Bahrain’s High Criminal Appeals Court has upheld prison sentences against four men and adjusted the sentence of a fifth in a major drug trafficking case, where a private home in Adliya was turned into a secret marijuana farm.

The court sentenced the first and second defendants to life in prison and fined each BD5,000. The fourth defendant received 10 years in jail, while the fifth was sentenced to one year and fined BD1,000. The first defendant will also be deported after serving his sentence, and all seized items were confiscated. The third defendant’s sentence was reduced from life imprisonment to 15 years with a BD5,000 fine.

According to anti-narcotics officials, the case came to light after investigations revealed that the first defendant led a network that cultivated and sold marijuana in Bahrain for six years. He used his Adliya residence as a fully equipped indoor farm, where seeds smuggled into the country by his friends were planted and grown. Once the plants matured, he harvested, dried, and prepared them for sale.

The second defendant played a key role in maintaining the farm, helping with equipment installation and ensuring continuous production. After harvesting, he also handled storage, packaging, and distribution, as well as collecting cash from sales. Part of the earnings was transferred to two European countries with the help of the second defendant.

Police arrested the first defendant near his home following a public prosecution warrant. A search revealed a two-story house filled with marijuana plants, farming tools, and equipment. Large quantities of marijuana were seized.

The ruling highlights Bahrain’s ongoing efforts to crack down on drug networks and prevent illegal substances from circulating in the country.