Dubai’s strict drug rules explained after Mia O’Brien jailed for life in UAE ‘Alcatraz’

The 23-year-old British woman faces 25 years behind bars under Dubai’s ultra-strict drug laws after reportedly being found in possession of 50g of cocaine imn the UAE

A woman is facing 25 years in a prison dubbed Dubai’s “Alcatraz,” after she was caught with 50g of cocaine in the UAE. Law student, Mia O’Brien from Huyton, was convicted by a judge after a day-long hearing on July 25, and according to her mum Danielle, the trial was “all in Arabic”.

Mia, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, has also been handed a £100,000 fine, reported the Mirror. It’s understood that Mia has not paid the steep fine and that she is scheduled to have an appeal heard within the next few weeks as she stares down the possibility of decades in prison.

According to The Sun, if she had of been convicted in the UK, Mia would likely have got a sentence of around two years, as per the Sentencing Council’s guidelines. Although it’s difficult to say exactly what punishment would have been delivered if the drugs with a street value of around £2,500 in the UK were found here.

However, in the Gulf State which takes a zero-tolerance approach to drugs, Mia now faces imprisonment of 25 years in horrendous conditions.

The Arab nation’s super-strict rules are dictated by Shariah Law, which their society follows over there. Any quantity of illegal drugs discovered, even the most miniscule amounts, can result in prosecution.

Drugs don’t even need to be found on a person, as positive blood tests can be considered illegal use of a substance, and someone with traces of drugs in their bloodstream is liable to be prosecuted.

Any quantity of illegal drugs found — even as small as 0.01g — can result in prosecution.

In 2008, British tourist Keith Brown was jailed for four years over a speck of cannabis, smaller than a grain of sugar, which was discovered on his shoe.

In 2013, an Indian man was jailed in Dubai for four years after being caught with 102.5 grams of poppy seeds in his luggage. The incident highlighted the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) strict anti-narcotics laws, which class poppy seeds as an illegal substance, regardless of intent.

As the quantities of drugs get bigger, so do the consequences. And things get extremely serious if the police suspect you had intent to supply, in some cases, the death sentence is even a possibility.. According to the UK foreign office, British visitors are explicitly warned not to flout the country’s laws. The office singles out drug offences in particular as an integral part of its warnings.

On its travel advice for Dubai, the FCDO says: “There is zero tolerance for drugs-related offences. The penalties for trafficking, smuggling, using and possessing illegal drugs (including residual amounts) are severe.

“Sentences for drug trafficking can include the death penalty. Possession of even the smallest amount of illegal drugs, including cannabis, can lead to a minimum 3-month prison term or a fine of between 20,000 UAE dirham (£4,000) and 100,000 UAE dirham (£20,000).

“The Emirati authorities count the presence of drugs in the blood stream as possession. Some ‘herbal highs’ and products containing cannabidiol (CBD) are illegal in the UAE. Possessing, concealing or making transactions with money from drugs-related offences is illegal. You could get a prison sentence and a fine.

“UAE airports have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items, including cannabis. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers. You can be arrested for carrying drugs, even residual amounts.”