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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Bahrain: Sea chase drug smugglers jailed
Mohammed Aslam Gulf Daily News
Wednesday 05 Apr 2006 THREE Bahrainis originally cleared of drug smuggling were each jailed for 10 years yesterday, after the prosecution appealed. They were convicted and sentenced by the Supreme Appeal Court, which ruled that the Lower Criminal Court was wrong to acquit them. But the court upheld the acquittal of a fourth Bahraini man, 24, who had allegedly provided transport for the operation. The other three, two aged 29 and one 26, were arrested in Saudi Arabia after a dramatic sea chase by boat and helicopter, in April 2004, the court heard. They dumped 129kg of cannabis overboard in six barrels during the chase, which were retrieved by the Coastguard two days later, after being carried away by the current. The men outran the Bahrain Coastguard patrols, but were tracked by helicopter to the Saudi shore, where they fled ashore, the court heard. They were arrested in a joint Saudi-Bahrain operation and brought back to stand trial. The three were charged with drug smuggling, while the youngest was charged with aiding and abetting. He allegedly used his car to help transport the barrels to the shore at Busaiteen, where they were put aboard a boat he allegedly provided, to be smuggled to Saudi. Police had been watching the men after a tip-off and gave chase when the boat headed out to sea, the court heard. The other three later testified the youngest defendant has no idea what was in the barrels, but had simply provided the car and boat.
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