PAKISTANI SMUGGLES DRUGS FOR BAHRAINI WORK PERMIT

An alleged Pakistani drug mule was tempted to smuggle capsules of heroin in exchange of a work permit in Bahrain, court documents revealed.

The 39-year-old accused, who appeared yesterday for the first time before the High Criminal Court on charge of smuggling drugs, was caught with 69 capsules of heroin in his stomach.

His crime was brought to light upon his arrival in the Kingdom after officials at the Bahrain International Airport spotted him with symptoms of extreme fatigue.

When they enquired, he immediately revealed that he was hiding capsules in his stomach.

The officials therefore took him directly to hospital, where he was given medications to help him dispose the drugs off his body. According to court files, the capsules weighed 542.8 grams.

“I wanted a work permit for Bahrain, and a fellow countryman promised me to provide me one if I smuggle the drugs. He also pledged to give my family 25,000 Pakistani Rupees (BD93) when I hand the drugs to the consignee in Bahrain,” the defendant told prosecutors.

“When I boarded the plane, I felt very tired. After I reached, I was struggling to walk. Therefore I immediately informed the authorities,” he added.

The man who was supposed to receive the capsules was also later arrested by police after the accused expressed his readiness to help police in catching him.

The consignee, also of Pakistan origin, is also being tried in connection with the case. The 29-year-old accused was reportedly lured by police to come and receive the capsules. A delay was caused in nabbing the person as he first sent his driver to collect the capsules. Police nabbed the driver, but found that the second accused had assigned him to collect it.

Officers then arrested the 29-year-old Pakistani from a campsite in Sakhir, and seized from him 51 capsules of heroin.

“I was asked to receive the capsules and hand them to another man,” he said after the arrest.

However, he failed to identify the “man” he accused during questioning, prompting prosecutors to charge him of drug peddling.