A British man allegedly caught with £2,000-worth of cocaine in Dubai has been sentenced to 40 years in jail, illustrating the severity of drug laws in the UAE.
Sam Dorman, a barber and tattoo artist originally from Glossop, Derbyshire, was detained in a police operation earlier this month.
The 33-year-old was said to be in possession of half a gram of the Class A drug when he was arrested.
Another 28g of the substance are also understood to have been found at his home.
The dad-of-one was sentenced on Monday and is now being held at Al-Awir Central Prison – a notorious ‘hellhole’, where other British nationals are also detained.
‘Sam won’t be out till his 70s’
A source told the Sun: ‘He has a young daughter in the UK, so to be serving 40 years is really sad. He won’t be out till he is in his 70s.
‘The prison is a hellhole and Sam’s family are understandably distraught.
‘When they spoke to him, it looked like he had taken a battering. I just hope someone can help him.’
The source added that after he moved to Dubai in 2022 to start a business, he ‘got in with the wrong crowd’.
They believe a customer, who Dorman had sold cocaine to, was detained by the police on the side of a road.
They claimed officers then took his phone and messaged the tattoo artist, in a bid to pretend to be the buyer and asked for more.
‘Sam stupidly went and the police were waiting,’ they added. ‘At this point he was nabbed.’
Dubai’s severe drug laws in action
In the UK, such an offence could carry seven years behind bars and/or an unlimited fine.
In the Emirates, however, a zero-tolerance policy toward drug offences is enforced. Penalties are severe, with life imprisonment or death possible for trafficking.
Even small amounts intended only for personal use can result in significant fines and deportation.
Inside ‘hellhole’ prison where Sam is locked up
Sam is currently locked up in Al-Awir Central Prison, on the outskirts of Dubai. It is one of the Emirate’s main detention facilities.
Known for its overcrowded conditions and strict regime, the jail has been the subject of criticism by human rights groups.
Detainees have reported harsh living conditions, limited access to legal support, and poor hygiene standards.
Several foreign nationals, including Britons, are serving long sentences there, often in connection with drug-related offences.
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