Drug racket hidden behind sewing shop unravelled

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

A tailor who used his sewing shop as a front for drug dealing has been sentenced to five years in jail and fined BD3,000 after losing his appeal before Bahrain’s top criminal court. He will also be deported upon completing his sentence.

The Asian national was found guilty of running the illegal operation with a Bahraini accomplice, who received a one-year prison sentence and a BD1,000 fine.

The case took a dramatic turn when a third man, initially part of the operation, turned informant. His cooperation with authorities led to the tailor’s downfall, earning him a pardon.

The bust

Acting on the informant’s tipoff, police arrested the Bahraini accomplice while he was sitting in his car. Officers found BD24.5 in cash, suspected to be proceeds from drug sales.

Following the arrest, investigators zeroed in on the tailor’s shop, which appeared to be an ordinary business. After staking it out, authorities launched a sting operation that dismantled the entire network.

Court’s ruling

Prosecutors initially charged both the tailor and the informant with possession and sale of banned substances, while the Bahraini accomplice faced additional charges of illegal drug use. The court not only upheld the sentences but also ordered the confiscation of all seized items related to the case.