My Thailand Diary

Fair Trials International released this information on the 20th of February 2008…
and more. This is scary and makes me think twice about planning a stop over in Dubai with my family. I’m sure 1000 of people go to Dubai without even knowing about this law or have never had any problems but would I want to put my family at risk?Not because of drugs, I don’t do drugs, but whatabout Actifed, and other cold medication thats on that list?

UAE has a very strict, zero-tolerance anti-drugs policy. If you can get by without medication, it is safest to leave it at home if you are travelling to or through UAE.

While many other countries also apply controls to the following drugs, UAE is unusual in conducting extremely thorough searches of many travellers through its airports, with highly sensitive equipment.

If you must take medication, make sure:
1. It is not on the banned ‘Narcotics’ list;
2. You have a prescription for it – even if you bought it over-the-counter.

Keith Andrew Brown
43 years old from Middlesex. Arrested on 17 September 2007 at Dubai airport, enroute to London from Ethiopia. He and his wife were stopped and searched at the airport and nothing was found. Then the stub of a roll-up cigarette was seen on the sole of his shoe. He was charged with possession of 0.003g of cannabis and was this month sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment. He is waiting for an opportunity to seek clemency.

Robert Dalton, 25 from Kent
Robert travelled to Dubai on 13 November 2007 for a holiday after finishing his economics degree. He was stopped and searched at the airport and arrested after Customs officers alleged they found 0.03g of cannabis in his pockets. He is currently on trial and if convicted, will mostly likely receive a 4 year prison sentence.