Pakistani man arrested for selling drugs via WhatsApp in Dubai

DUBAI: A Pakistani man has been arrested in Dubai on charges of selling drugs using popular messaging mobile app WhatsApp.

The 41-year-old Pakistani, who worked as a driver, allegedly sold drugs by sending messages on WhatsApp, said the Khaleej Times report.

Prosecutors accuse him of broadcasting information with the aim to peddle drugs and also of using narcotics. He was arrested on December 26, 2017, in Dubai’s Al Muraqqabat area.

A lieutenant with the Dubai Police anti-narcotics division said, “We had a reliable source tipping us off that the accused was taking and possessing drugs for peddling at his place in Al Waheeda.

Read: Man arrested for ‘blackmailing’ woman on Whatsapp

“We raided his place and he was found in his room in the upper floor. An amount of 16,950 dirhams was found in his pocket, which we suspected he made from selling drugs”, the policeman said.

According to the accused, the money he had on him was from selling his car. The ruling of the case is expected on April 26.

“Our information was that he used social media, including WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, to peddle drugs. His mobile phone was seized and he was taken to the general directorate of anti-narcotics. He was later referred to the general directorate of criminal evidence for drug tests,” the policeman added.

“However, our criminal database showed that he got released from jail on May 27, 2017. He became tense when confronted with that and acted elusively,” the lieutenant told the prosecutor.

According to the crime lab report, the driver’s urine sample tested positive for traces of morphine and codeine.