Qatar authorities have confirmed their first drug seizure through the soccer World Cup.
On Monday, customs officers uncovered a haul of the painkiller tramadol, which has been broadly utilized in soccer, and 16.4 ounces of cannabis.
Customs authorities at Hamad International Airport confirmed that they had “foiled the smuggling” of 1,990 tramadol capsules and the cannabis.
The illicit substances have been discovered when customs officers “suspected” a passenger and inspected the baggage, the customs service mentioned in its assertion.
“The Customs Department of Hamad International Airport thwarted the smuggling of tramadol and narcotic hashish,” the assertion mentioned.
“The customs officer suspected the traveller’s baggage. Upon inspection, 1,990 tramadol capsules have been discovered, in addition to narcotic cannabis, which weighed 464.5 grams.”
According to AFP, the nationality of the alleged smuggler nationality was not given, however they may seem in courtroom.
Qatar has predicted a couple of million followers to enter the Gulf state for the month-long match that concludes on December 18.
Qatar has strict legal guidelines on drug possession which embrace prolonged jail phrases, vital fines and deportation and even the loss of life penalty.
New scanners have been reportedly put in on the Hamad International Airport, which officers claimed can detect “residual quantities on baggage”.
Qatar additionally has a special classification system for prescribed drugs frequent and authorized in western society – akin to Xanax and Valium – that means that with out a thorough “physician’s report”, they’re topic to the identical extreme penalties as different prohibited narcotics.
Qatar authorities have made their first drug haul of the world cup, with the alleged smuggler dealing with dire penalties.Source: information.com.au
The World Anti-Doping Agency [WADA] is ready so as to add tramadol, an addictive artificial opiate, to its banned checklist in 2024.
It is already prohibited in biking.
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland mentioned in media interviews this yr that he spiralled right into a deep despair due to tramadol abuse.