Illegal substances hidden in door locks; 25-year-old fugitive accused of running international criminal operation

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

A 25-year-old fugitive is said to be running an international drug ring smuggling narcotics into Bahrain inside door locks sent through the post.

Nine suspects are now standing trial, including three brothers.

Investigators believe the group used parcels to move drugs across borders.

One consignment, delivered to a company in Bahrain, drew attention after a report was made to police.

Defendant

When the third defendant arrived to collect it, officers stepped in. The parcel contained door locks packed with a white substance thought to be drugs.

Enquiries led to a wider network.

The operation appears to have been controlled from outside the country, with local members handling delivery and distribution.

Police arrested five suspects already inside Bahrain.

These included the second, third, seventh, eighth and ninth defendants.

A warrant was obtained to search their homes. All were taken in for questioning by the anti-narcotics unit.

On 23 July 2024, customs officers at the airport intercepted a parcel from the United Kingdom.

It was addressed to the second defendant and contained just over 425 grams of suspected drugs.

That same day, he received calls over WhatsApp. Police allowed him to respond while under supervision.

The next day, a different man came to collect the parcel. He was arrested at the scene.

During questioning, he said he had received instructions from the first defendant to pick it up and await further directions.

Contact

Police permitted him to make contact again, which helped lead to the arrest of two more suspects, the fourth and fifth.

The sixth defendant was later brought in. Investigators say he is linked to the same group.

A warrant was issued to search his home as well.

Reports describe an operation involving drugs smuggled through parcels, divided upon arrival, and handed to dealers.

Distribution was carried out through both direct handovers and dead drops.

Planning

The first defendant is accused of planning and coordinating shipments and instructing others.

The second and third allegedly received the drugs and passed them on while keeping a share.

The fourth received parcels and distributed them to the fifth and sixth defendants, who acted as the main dealers.

The seventh, eighth and ninth defendants were found in possession of smaller amounts and are accused of keeping the substances for personal use.

Illegal import

Prosecutors charged the first six with illegal import and possession of methamphetamine with intent to supply.

The third faces further charges of possession and sale of heroin. He is also accused of holding morphine, heroin and methamphetamine for personal use.

The seventh was found with morphine and methamphetamine. The eighth had morphine.

Substances

The ninth was in possession of hashish, marijuana, heroin, tramadol, alprazolam, bromazepam and diazepam. None of the substances were held with permission.

The High Criminal Court has listed the case for pleadings on 13 April.

Defence lawyer Najlaa Baqer has asked the court to summon a witness.