Elderly Dubai grocer sold drugs from his store

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: Elderly Dubai grocer sold drugs from his store A grocer has gone on trial accused of selling hashish from his store  – for the past three decades. Dubai Court of First Instance was told the Bangladeshi, 68, was caught along with his two sons, 28 and 33, who are accused of helping him deal drugs in the Naif area of Deira. Prosecutors claim the sons would deliver hashish on order to customers in the area. A fourth man, a shop employee aged 60, was also arrested and all four face drug dealing charges. They were found in possession of 4.5kg of hashish – kept under the counter – during a raid on the grocery store in Naif September 20. Police realised that some stores in Naif were dealing under the counter after a 163kg haul was seized from a grocers’ nearby. It’s claimed that hearing about the raid on the other shop, the Bangladeshi, his sons and employee tried to get rid of their stash, but drug squad officers arrested one of the sons with the drugs on him. An Emirati officer, aged 25, testified that he led them to his father’s store. The officer testified: “The father told us that he used to trade drugs but he stopped four months earlier and claimed that the shop was clean. But when we searched the shop we found a bag full of hashish under the cashier’s counter.” Police said they found more in plastic bags in a store cupboard. The officer added: “The father told us that he asked his sons to get rid of the drugs but they didn’t. He also said that an Indian supplier brought the drugs to them to sell.” Police said the 28-year-old son told them that his father would send them to the Indian supplier to collect the drugs. They would stash it in the shop and then deliver it to customers. The police officer continued: “We were told they stopped selling the drugs four months before their arrest, when we raided another grocery shop near them and found 163kg of hashish.” Police said the fourth defendant told Dubai Police that he was responsible for weighing the hashish and also delivering it to customers. The officer added: “The father claimed that he sold hashish for 30 years – and that he was the one who was running the business.” Despite police testifying that the men admitted the charges in custody, the four defendants issued a not guilty plea in court on Tuesday. Judge Mohammed Jamal adjourned the case until next month. The men will remain in custody. ali.shouk@7days.ae Read the original story at: Elderly Dubai grocer sold drugs from his store