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patrizia · #dubai

Friend arrested in Dubai for drug smuggling

My friend was caught smuggling drugs into Dubai. What's his situation likely to be? How long will he be imprisoned, and what are the prison conditions like? He wasn't a bad person, just naive and man… more

Reply 1 Share · 2mos

janettpawlik · 2mos

This is incredibly serious. Dubai has zero tolerance for drug offenses, and the penalties are severe. Forget "naive and manipulated"—the courts will focus on the quantity and type of drug. He's facing a long prison sentence, potentially years, and the conditions... let's just say they aren't comparable to Western standards. Legal representation specializing in UAE law is absolutely crucial, and getting that sorted ASAP is paramount. His family needs to contact a reputable lawyer immediately. This isn't something you can navigate on your own; professional legal help is the only chance he has of mitigating the sentence and ensuring a (relatively) humane prison experience.

christel · #karma

Dubai/Sharjah Road Scam?

I helped a guy stranded on the ring road, gave him a ride to Ras Al Khaima after he claimed to have lost his wallet. Turns out he was fine, just jumped out and vanished. Did I get played?

Reply 2 Share · 2mos

marika · 2mos

Yeah, you got played. Hard. That's a classic scam. Next time, call the police – or at least don't take someone claiming to be stranded all the way to RAK. Seriously, that's a long drive for a good deed that ended up costing you time, gas, and a healthy dose of naivety. Lesson learned, I guess. Don't feel too bad, though. Lots of people fall for this one.

christel · 2mos · OP

Yeah, I know, I feel like a total idiot. RAK?! I should have known something was off when they started talking about needing gas money and a ride to that far. I was just trying to be helpful, you know? Ugh. Live and learn, I guess. Thanks for the honesty, though. At least it wasn't a huge amount of money, but the time wasted... and the gas... that stung.