I also saw that story.

There's more information and a link to a list of banned substances in this article:

http://tinyurl.com/2vc3yq

Ahar, what an excellent link. I do hope others read it. OMG 4 years just for eating a sandwich. The person in question had eaten a sandwich at heath row airport and 3 poppy seeds from the roll landed on his clothes. He was arrested for carrying an illegal substance and received a prison sentence of 4 yrs.

I don't want to sound all gloom and doom. Dubai is a fantastic destination for a holiday but it really is important that you check all your clothing, pockets and bags for the simplest things such as flu tablets, codeine pain killer ha even the odd poppy seed, simple accidents can happen so please beware and read up on what you can and cannot take with you

We had loads of posts on this yesterday.

Please do not read the press and believe everything you see.

The people in question must have had some other cause or suspiscion to be stopped in the first place. And all of the stories are very one sided - therefore we only have their word.

I find it extremely unlikely that someone would recieve a 4 year prison sentence for 3 poppy seeds from a bread roll in Heathrow - note it doesn't mention any blood test results !

I know all the regulars on here will not bother much about reading things like that, but there will be people who will become totally paranoid about it and will never consider Dubai as a destination because of it. As you say latimer, there is probably a lot more to this story and a lot of scaremongering involved. So, anyone who is reading this...please don't let it put you off going to Dubai and if you do need to take prescription drugs, just make sure you have a letter from your GP and they are in their original container with the pharmacist label on the box with your name on it.

p.s. Luby, have you got your Maldives holiday sorted yet?

do you honestly think the british embassy / uk legal system would have not got involved for three poppy seeds on a bread roll and poppy seeds on bread roles are not opinum its food.

This is a load of crap , and def a lot more to it.

if you have stuff on you that you shouldnt then you will do the time regardless whether its a gram or a pound.

I would have considered my self a regular on this site and it is for that reason, I would rather warn people who have never been to Dubai before, I agree I could not see the British consulate letting it happen however the person was Swedish. I have been trough customs many times where they have been dogs sniffing along the line. It is not my intention to worry anyone needlessly only to be cautious after all I know how worried I was when I was over there knowing my boys could have been smoking the stuff the week before. Had I off know before I went I would never have taken them and now i Know I would never take them again.

That doesnt mean I will stop going, I love the place. I have planned to go this year and I will be traveling through Dubai next month.

Hi Marjo.

Sorry no we still have not got the last 4 day's sorted. The Banyan Boat is fully booked and the other boats we have looked at seem to only do 7 or 14 day's. At the moment I am researching other islands to stay on ie the one and only or soneva fushi it's just getting them at the right price. I have booked the hotel at male for a day as our flight on the return is at 2,30 am. Is that the same time as your's it's just over a month left to go. I can't wait!! what are you doing for the last day or do you have a earlier flight.

luby im not saying what you said was crap but i dont beleive the paper report as this contrary to what everyone wants to beleive hardly ever happens.

So there will be more to this than has been reported there are very few europeans in dubai or abu dhabi jails now or previously.

Dubai is on a route to the far east and other world wide destinations where drugs are readily available it also has a shocking black market for fake cigs and the authorities are more on the ball than ever in looking for people with a threat to there industry and also using illegal substances etc with a view to trafficking.

And would you be blood sampled at random, id have to be straight jacketed before id allow that without british consel in attendance.

thank god they didnt pass through bangkok where use of drugs is the worst possible offence ever, and your slung into hiv, rat infested cells with constant threat of abuse and rape, same as bali, malylisa etc etc of which they would have ended up with a 100 year or death sentance.

Canabis stays in the system much longer than say herion and anywone who regular uses is nuts to use prior to passing through these sort of places before travel.

And if you do use do the research first and consider who you are also placing at risk.

We have to remember it is illegal even if we have a more liberal view.

This is a good link for all prisoners held abroad esp people from the UK or Europe, you can search on each country.

http://www.usp.com.au/fpss/news-saudi02.htm

The Dubai government's approach to the importation and use of drugs is well documented. A quick look at the British FCO's website will make this clear. And Consular officials at the Embassy won't be able to do a great deal if British nationals are caught violating this well publicised law. There are a quite considerable number of British nationals in jail in the Emirates, most on alcohol related offences. The UAE's approach to importation and use of drugs may appear harsh to some but the upside for the 100,000+ Brits that live in the Northern Emirates alone is that there is no drug related crime. So no one breaks in at night to pinch your laptop which they'll merely sell for a quick fix. Women can walk the streets safely carrying the latest mobile and/or wearing jewellery without fear of being mugged. It's an environment that the authorities are proud of and rightly keen to protect. If drugs (including codeine!) are your thing, it's probably best to travel elsewhere.