Drug addiction is one of the most common issues young people encounter. Around the world, millions of individuals spend an unfathomable sum of money on this horrific addiction. According to legal advocates in Dubai, drug trafficking is a significant worldwide problem that the world is working hard to eradicate.
UAE is not exempt from this challenge, just like every other nation in the globe. In reality, there has been an increase in drug use and possession in the UAE since 2018. The UAE government has long adopted a zero-tolerance approach to drug trafficking to combat this situation.
The Federal Law No. 14 of 1995, as amended, establishes the framework for the regulation of narcotics, drugs, and psychotropic substances in the United Arab Emirates. It’s also referred to as the “drug law.” This legislation makes it illegal to produce, import, export, transport, purchase, sell, store, and possess narcotic and psychoactive drugs inside the nation.
The offender would be subject to penalty if they engaged in any of the aforementioned acts without any supervision or if they did not have legitimate scientific or medical justifications.
The Shariah Law
The purchase, possession, use, and distribution of drugs are strictly forbidden, as they are in all Muslim nations that uphold Sharia Law. Even though the UAE is very liberal, with alcohol flexibly available in hotel bars and restaurants in the majority of emirates and sold to private individuals with permits, the UAE had a zero-tolerance policy toward drug use, particularly trafficking, until recently. It has been documented that transiting or arriving passengers to the UAE have been detained just for having a poppy seed on their clothing from eating a sandwich.
Although it is uncommon, visitors should be aware that their bags may be inspected at customs, and anyone found in possession of narcotics may expect to pay hefty penalties or perhaps go to jail.
Drugs in UAE
Early in 2022, the regulations around drugs were slightly modified in relation to THC, the primary psychoactive component of cannabis, despite the fact that they were still highly tight. People caught with THC-containing food, beverages, or other products will no longer go to jail; instead, the THC will be seized, and at most, they will receive a fine. Nevertheless, it is still completely forbidden to possess vapes or e-cigarettes that have been infused with cannabis oil.
Potential jail terms for first-time offenders have been lowered from two years to three months, and during that period, rehabilitation will be made available to the offenders.
However, the law is still strict when it comes to the use of stronger drugs and drug trafficking; as a matter of fact, the fine for encouraging drug use and aiding in the sale of narcotics and psychoactive substances has been increased to AED 50,000 and offenders face a minimum five-year prison term.
Prescription Medicated Drugs
When we talk about UAE in particular, prescription or over-the-counter medications are classified as illegal monitored substances in the United Arab Emirates. This is where many travelers make unnecessary or vague mistakes by not understanding the laws of carrying prescription drugs when traveling to the UAE.
If you are a prospective traveler who is planning to come to the UAE and you take some prescribed medication that is classified as drugs, you should declare it to the relevant authorities or document it beforehand so that they can save you from possible inconsequence. For this, the traveler may require a letter from their doctor or face no entry into the country.
However, travelers are advised to register their drug information on the government website. The government website helps you mention specific details for your business and help you have a safe travel plan.
Some Amendments to the Law
The severity of the punishment for using illegal substances has drastically decreased as a result of recent revisions. You may have received a four-year prison term earlier. However, it was recently shortened to just two years because of the amendment’s changes.
The attorney general now has the authority to order the criminal to report to a rehabilitation facility rather than appear in court, which is another significant change brought about by the amendment. However, the attorney general may arrive at this judgment after speaking with the bureaucracy and the prosecutors, and it would depend on the criminal history of the perpetrator.
In the event of a repeat offender, the court may impose a fine of AED 10,000 as well as a two-year prison sentence. However, a first-time offender may be ordered to perform community service or attend a rehabilitation facility in addition to paying a maximum fine of AED 10,000.
Penalties & Deportation
Schedule 10 details the consequences for breaking Articles 10 and 11 of the Narcotics Law.
According to Schedule 10 of the Narcotics Law, breaching the rules relating to Articles 10 and 11 would result in penalties of at least 7 or 10 years in jail and fines, depending on the drug(s) in question. The accused may even get a life sentence, depending on the number of narcotics found.
According to Article 57 of the Narcotics Law, the accused may be given the death sentence if the offense connected to a violation of Article 10/1 was done with the intention of trafficking or promotion or if the accused is a member of an enemy organization or organized gang or works for its benefit.
The courts may decide to order the deportation of a foreign national who has been charged with narcotics charges under the Narcotics Law. This is a change from the previous stance, which mandated the deportation of foreigners for narcotics offenses.
The Final Words
To end the problem of drug trafficking in the nation, the UAE government is making significant efforts. It aims to preserve society as a whole and prevent people from becoming hooked.
Many people commit grave errors that may easily be avoided with appropriate legal assistance from corporate law firms in Dubai because the complexities of the laws related to drug trafficking are not well understood. Therefore, the instant you become involved in any such matter, get in touch with a law company and seek appropriate legal assistance from them to discover how to go from there.
With the right direction, you will be better prepared to handle and successfully navigate the issue.
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