Dubai tourists warned over drugs

[bambbbam2]

Dubai tourists warned over drugs | Metro.co.uk

Possession of poppy seeds, over-the-counter cold remedies or common painkillers could be enough to earn a four-year prison term in Dubai, tourists are being warned.


Simply carrying the 'controlled substances' or bringing them into the popular holiday destination may lead to arrest – even if passengers are only passing through the airport.


Earlier this week, a British man was jailed after he was found to have cannabis weighing less than a grain of sugar on his shoe.

 

[samh004]

Sounds like a great way to kill revenue for Emirates and Etihad. Granted, you should respect the laws of other countries, but this is just a tad excessive.

A Swiss man was reportedly detained when aiport officials found poppy seeds on his clothing from a sandwich he had bought at Heathrow.

 

[Sprucegoose]

PLEASE SEE DFAT ADVICE BELOW. NOT INCONSISTENT WITH MEDIA REPORTS

Travel Advice

United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates overall This Advice is current for Sunday, 29 November 2009. Be alert to own securityExercise cautionHigh degree of cautionReconsider your need to travelDo not travel
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information under Health Issues (Drug Control Department contact details). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
Summary

• We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in the UAE because of the high threat of terrorist attack.
• Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
• Statements by international terrorist groups continue to call for attacks against Westerners on the Arabian Peninsula and in the Gulf region. These include references to residential compounds, military, oil, transport and aviation interests. We continue to receive reports that terrorists are planning attacks against Western interests in the UAE and the wider Gulf region. Commercial and public areas frequented by Westerners are possible terrorist targets.
• When you are in the UAE, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you.
• The UAE has a zero tolerance policy towards illegal drugs. Penalties can include the death sentence or life imprisonment. Medications available over the counter or by prescription in Australia may be illegal in the UAE. See Local Laws for details.
• Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 has spread throughout the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides useful information for individuals and travellers on its website. For further information and advice to Australians, including on possible quarantine measures overseas, see our travel bulletin on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009.

cheers

SPRUCE

 

[drron]

Might be seeing some real cheap fares on Emirates.

 

[Mal]

Might be seeing some real cheap fares on Emirates.

It's a rehashed 2 year old article... cheap fares will only be because of the severe financial crisis in Dubai at the moment, or because Emirates needs more money.

Certainly this article didn't stop people going to Dubai 2 years ago, and won't today ...

 

[Sprucegoose]

It's a rehashed 2 year old article... cheap fares will only be because of the severe financial crisis in Dubai at the moment, or because Emirates needs more money.

Certainly this article didn't stop people going to Dubai 2 years ago, and won't today ...

yes they still flock to Thailand and Turkey after midnight express and bangkok hilton and all that hoo haa.................it enshrines the 'it can never happen to me' attitude, similar to our reaction to gory road crash advertisements and why they dont work........

cheers

SPRUCE:mrgreen::mrgreen:

 

[drron]

It's a rehashed 2 year old article... cheap fares will only be because of the severe financial crisis in Dubai at the moment, or because Emirates needs more money.

Certainly this article didn't stop people going to Dubai 2 years ago, and won't today ...

I was actually responding to Spruce's DFAT advice.That coupled with the GFC may certainly cause Emirates some problems.

 

[Hvr]

It's a rehashed 2 year old article...

Groan, that is probably worth a jail sentence on its own. :mrgreen: