Asian smugglers’ remand term extended by 15 days

Manama

Three Asian nationals involved in a drug smuggling case had their detention term extended by another 15 days, pending investigation.

One of the accused claimed he smuggled the drugs to provide financial support to his “needy family.”

The 32- year-old Pakistani national, was arrested at Bahrain International Airport on April 9 by Customs officers who were already alerted about his arrival.

He was manually inspected but nothing illegal was found in his possession or inside his luggage.

However, under intense questioning he finally admitted to hiding capsules in his stomach and led police to his accomplices, who were waiting for him outside the airport.  

All the three accused were subjected to X-ray and police discovered two of them had swallowed 150 capsules in total.

The 32-year-old reportedly carried 65 capsules weighing 500 grams in his stomach, while his accomplice had 85 capsules. The 32-year-old told prosecutors he was promised 85,000 Pakistani Rupees (BD315) for helping smuggle drugs into the country.

"A compatriot told me he would give me 85,000 Pakistani Rupees if I smuggle Heroin into Bahrain," he said in his statement.

"I agreed and swallowed 65 pills two days before my flight. I was about to meet the two men waiting for me, when I was busted. We are poor and I wanted to help my mother,” he added.

The accused are being tried before the High Criminal Court, where they face up to 10 years behind bars if found guilty.