Indian jailed in UAE for smuggling poppy seeds

A 31-year-old Indian has been jailed for four years in the UAE for smuggling and possessing poppy seeds which he claimed he had brought to use in cooking.
Customs inspectors at Dubai International Airport seized 102.5g of poppy seeds placed in the luggage of the Indian farmer, only identified as BS, when he arrived in Dubai in April.
During his trial, the accused admitted that he had brought in the substances with him but denied that it was a drug, Gulf News reported.
"I brought those seeds with me from India, but I did not know that it was banned. Where I come from, we use this for cooking," argued BS.

"We use this like a spice in the sauce and we use it to cook soup. I possessed it for cooking purposes," BS said.
According to the primary ruling, BS will be deported following the completion of his jail term.