Appeals overturns verdict, acquits 4 in drug peddling

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KUWAIT CITY, March 16: The Court of Appeals overturned the verdict issued by a lower court which sentenced four individuals to 15-year imprisonment with hard labor for smuggling cannabis and psychotropic substances into the country by sea.

The court instead acquitted them of all charges, reports Al-Seyassah daily. During the court session, the defense counsel of the accused Lawyer Yasin Al-Khalidi submitted a defense memorandum confirming the invalidity of the search and arrest procedures because they took place before the warrant from the Public Prosecution was issued.

He also stressed on the invalidity of the warrant as it was based on investigations that were not serious. Lawyer Al-Khalidi also affirmed the absence of any intention by his clients in trafficking the illicit substances. According to the case file, secret investigations conducted by the incharge officer revealed that the first suspect was smuggling narcotic substances by sea. He immediately obtained a warrant from the Public Prosecution to search and arrest the suspect.

On the day of the incident, the officer went to Subbiya area at 1:00am, and coordinated with the Coast Guard to apprehend the smugglers following the completion of the delivery and receiving transactions.

The first suspect went into the sea in a small boat, and the smugglers met him, after which the process of handing over and receiving the narcotic substances took place on the beach. When the suspect was searched, five plastic bags were found with him, each containing 40 rectangular dark-colored packs, proving that they were hashish.

When questioned, the suspect admitted that he had obtained them with the intention of selling them, adding that he had previously agreed with the smugglers to bring the narcotic substances from the Republic of Iraq to the State of Kuwait, and they agreed on the site for the pick-up and delivery process. The arresting officer went to the General Department of the Coast Guard to receive the second, third and fourth suspects and detained them along with the fishing boat they used to smuggle the narcotic substances.

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