Qatar complete World Cup drug bust as ‘smuggler’ caught with 2,000 illegal pills
Qatari customs officers have stopped nearly 2,000 opiate pills from coming into the country, reports say.
The huge drug bust occurred at the Hamad International Airport on Monday, where the smuggler was also reportedly caught with 464.5 grams of hashish. It was believed that a passenger aroused suspicion from customs officers, who inspected their luggage, report the Daily Mail.
The passenger will now appear before Qatari courts while their nationality and gender has not been disclosed. In addition to the hashish, 1,990 tramadol pills were seized and, if found guilty, the suspect is facing a severe punishment.
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The laws on drug possession and drug dealing are incredibly strict in Qatar and could include long prison sentences, big fines and deportation. The Middle Eastern country has a zero-tolerance attitude to drug-related crimes – even residual amounts.
Tramadol has long been associated with addiction in sport stars and has recently come into the spotlight. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have made the decision to delay making a decision over the painkiller.
They will now decide whether to ban the substance in 2024 rather than anytime soon, which has caused controversy.
Many sport stars have complained about becoming addicted to the drug while the sport of cycling has already prohibited the use of tramadol.
“The Customs Department of Hamad International Airport thwarted the smuggling of tramadol and narcotic cannabis,” a statement from Qatari authorities read.
“The customs officer suspected the traveller’s luggage. Upon inspection, 1,990 tramadol pills were found, as well as narcotic hashish, which weighed 464.5 grams.”
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