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Wolthuizen strongly urges travellers to review the UAE's list of 374 restricted medications. 'Travellers who are planning to take any medication should ensure they are not taking a banned narcotic (such as more than 30mg of codeine) and if they are taking what the UAE classifies as a Class A or Class B substance (which includes many medications available over-the-counter in other countries), they should ensure they have a prescription for it,' she said.
Know before you go
Simon Goldsmith, spokesman for the British Embassy of Dubai, agrees that there is a need for greater awareness of the strict UAE drug laws. Over the last year, 64 Britons have been arrested on drugs-related charges in the country, while about 60% of detainees who request consular assistance from the embassy have been arrested for drug-related offences, he said.
'We welcome the flow of tourists between the UK and UAE - it's one of the pillars of the relationship,' Goldsmith noted. 'But when it comes to drugs, we want travellers to be aware of the consequences. Our longstanding advice is explicit: the penalties for drugs offences in the UAE are severe.'
Travellers who are detained for a drug-related offence cannot expect officials from their country to swoop in and solve their problem. The British embassy can only help people arrested on drug charges by seeing them within 48 hours and providing details of local lawyers. It does not provide legal advice or interfere in court proceedings, Goldsmith said.
'Our key message is simple and applies to everyone - know before you go - research your destination and obey local laws,' Goldsmith said.
Wolthuizen says travellers who believe they may have come into contact with any other banned substance, particularly cannabis, must ensure their clothing and belongings are completely free of anything which could trigger a search, and that they have no traces of such substances in their system.
Jeff Florian, Senior Reporter
