Customs Officer Foils Attempt to Smuggle Over 1,000 Lyrica Pills into Bahrain

TDT | Manama

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A 21-year-old Asian man was arrested at Bahrain International Airport after attempting to smuggle over 1,000 pills of the psychoactive substance Lyrica into the country.

The suspect, who arrived from his home country, concealed the pills in his luggage, hoping to sell them for profit. However, a vigilant customs officer at the airport thwarted his plan.

The incident occurred when the customs officer, while on duty, noticed suspicious items in the suspect's luggage during an X-ray scan. Upon questioning the suspect, he denied having any illegal substances. However, a thorough inspection of the luggage revealed 1,260 pills hidden within two black nylon bags, cleverly concealed beneath the fabric lining of the bag.

Upon examination, the pills were confirmed to contain Lyrica, a psychoactive substance. The customs officer immediately alerted the Drug Enforcement Administration at Bahrain International Airport.

Further investigations, including the use of confidential sources, revealed that the suspect was involved in trafficking Lyrica from his home country with the intention of selling it in Bahrain. He had previously purchased 44 boxes of Lyrica for 50 Bahraini dinars and sold them in the country for 750 Bahraini dinars.

The suspect confessed to purchasing 90 boxes of Lyrica in his home country and concealing them in a black nylon bag beneath the fabric lining of his luggage to avoid detection by airport security.

The Public Prosecution charged the suspect with importing psychoactive substances without legal authorisation. The High Appeals Court has scheduled a hearing for September 23rd to consider the suspect's appeal against his five-year prison sentence and a 3,000 Bahraini dinars fine.