Firing Squad Verdict for Hash Smuggling

160 kg's of Hash. Fortunatly, he got away. It doesn't say what is going to happen to the other guys that were caught.

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Court sentences man to death in absentia for drug smuggling

Web posted at: 4/9/2008 2:3:59
Source ::: The Peninsula


DOHA â?¢ A criminal court has sentenced in absentia an Asian to death for smuggling into the country large quantities of hashish. The court said in its verdict the convict has to face the firing squad.

The Anti-Drug Enforcement Directorate had laid a trap in September last year following a tip-off that a huge consignment of narcotics was expected to land on the shores of the country in the wee hours one morning for peddling.

The Directorate sought permission from the Public Prosecution to launch the operation as per the law of the land.

The Directorate, using its expertise in combating the nefarious trade, first set up a team of sleuths to make sure the information was authentic.

Once it was confirmed that the consignment was indeed on its way, a task force of select sleuths from the Directorate as well as the Coast Guard, according to a local Arabic daily, was set up to foil the smuggling bid and catch the culprits red-handed.

A trap was laid around the area on the coast where the drug was supposed to be delivered. Obviously, the drug traffickers were to use the sea route to make the delivery.

The convict, who later managed to run away (he was the one convicted in absentia), called the man on the phone who was to take the delivery saying that the consignment will be buried in the dunes on a particular spot onshore.

He, however, changed his mind a little later and called his contact again, saying the consignment was instead to be left at the appointed spot at 3am.

Officials of the Coast Guard, who were already on an alert having laid a trap, saw four men suddenly emerge near the place which was identified to them earlier, at around 3am. They were carrying boxes on their backs.

The foursome stopped, looked around and then put the boxes at a spot and just as they were to return, the Coast Guard personnel managed to pound on them and nab them. In the process, though, one of the four culprits managed to escape.

The officials opened the boxes for inspection a little later and discovered to their shock that they together contained some 160 kg of hashish. The consignment was brought into the country for peddling.

The suspects were questioned and the matter was referred to the court, which announced its verdict recently.
The Peninsula On-line: Qatar's leading English Daily

An interesting side note (maybe), but some may remember a bill in the U.S. Congress a few years back, I believe part of Congressman Newt Gringrich's Contract on America, that would have made smuggling two oz's of weed, or more, into the US a Capital crime, punishable by death. I don't know if it ever made it to the floor, of if it passed the house, but yikes, we are not that far away from those days.

they really need to include cannabis in some sort of NAFTA agreement or something, i think. :stoned: