Prosecution witnesses to be heard on Sept 3 in drug case

Manama The High Criminal Court will hear on September 3 the testimonies of prosecution witnesses in the trial of two Pakistani nationals implicated in a drug smuggling case. Among the accused is a 39-year-old who was arrested carrying drug capsules in his stomach, while his accomplice was nabbed in a sting operation carried out with help of the former. The first accused’s crime came to light after officials at the Bahrain International Airport spotted him with symptoms of extreme fatigue. He was reportedly struggling to walk due to the action of the drugs in his stomach. When the suspicious officials enquired, he immediately told them he was hiding capsules in his stomach and needed help. Therefore, he was taken directly to hospital, where he was given medications to dispose the capsules off his body. According to court files, the capsules weighed 540.8 grams. "A fellow countryman promised me a work permit if I smuggled drugs for him. He also pledged to give my family 25,000 Pakistani Rupees (BD93) when I hand the drugs to the consignee in Bahrain," the accused told prosecutors. "When I boarded the flight, I started feeling very tired. And when I reached Bahrain, I couldn't help but inform the authorities," he added. The 29- year-old second accused, who was supposed to receive the capsules, was also later arrested after the latter agreed to help police. He was nabbed from a campsite in Sakhir, and 51 capsules of heroin were seized from him. "I was asked to receive the capsules and hand them to another man," he said in his statement. However, he failed to identify this "man" during questioning, prompting prosecutors to charge him of drug peddling.