British man arrested in Dubai for carrying anti-depressants

Is Dubai really that backwards? I think it's extremely forward looking, that's how they've managed to built a trading port/hub in 20 years out of nowhere, it attracts people from all over the world and has the world's busiest international airport too.
Oh and there's very little corruption and the rule of law prevails.
I don't think that can be achieved by being backwards.

Depends what you are looking at - take a closer look at the treatment of migrant workers or some of the arbitrary laws, etc. from that perspective it certainly isn't leading the world.
 
rather unlikely, these are medications that are legal in the USA and which he has prescriptions for... what exactly do you think the US authorities would charge him with? Unlike the UAE the US does have a (sort of) functioning legal system

I'm sure he'd be out by now, but I certainly wouldn't want to enter the US with what he had. The hassle you'd quite possibly receive may well still involve a back room and possible incarceration for at least a short period.
 
Is Dubai really that backwards? I think it's extremely forward looking, that's how they've managed to built a trading port/hub in 20 years out of nowhere, it attracts people from all over the world and has the world's busiest international airport too.
Oh and there's very little corruption and the rule of law prevails.
I don't think that can be achieved by being backwards.

There's also a lot of sand in which to bury one's head.
 
Who prescribes a 6 months supply of anti-depressants without regular checkups?
He’s been under treatment for 21 years. He’ll know how he’s doing day to day and month to month better than a doctor. I doubt he’s seeing a doctor about this condition very regularly at all, unless he’s a danger to himself or others.

I’ve been on antidepressants in the past and could just order 2 months worth at a time without seeing a doctor. I probably did that for a year or so at a time.
 
he's had anxiety for years apparently... presumably he's been taking the medication for years too - he's in maritime security, some of the people working in that industry need to stay in international waters for prolonged periods of time (because of the weapons they need to carry for the job) - they will be going back and forth from client ships they need to protect in dangerous waters, to special boats that basically act as floating armouries... so he can't exactly pop down to boots and get more!

Someone on prescription medication for depression and/or anxiety being given access to weapons. Sounds completely safe to me. :)
 
no it hasn't been "totally misrepresented", clonazepam is used in conjunction with SSRIs to treat depression/anxiety - but really you're just trying to pointlessly nit pick there anyway, the issue is that the guy was traveling with medication that is legal in the UAE and that he has valid prescriptions for...

whether you want to argue the toss over whether the medications which he has a prescription for are anti anxiety, anti depression or whatever meds.. is rather irrelevant - they're controlled meds regardless but still legal and he's got a prescription

rather unlikely, these are medications that are legal in the USA and which he has prescriptions for... what exactly do you think the US authorities would charge him with? Unlike the UAE the US does have a (sort of) functioning legal system

also illegal for tourists to drink alcohol over there... something that some of the people who like to claim that "you just need to follow the local laws" probably aren't even aware of as they have a beer in their hotel bar

Just having a prescription is not a get out of jail card. There may be maximum quantities allowed in the relevant country. If the authorities think you may be intending to distribute then the prescription means nothing. Who knows what other evidence they may have.

Would 12 months supply with prescriptions be okay with you? 2 years?

There is always a threshold where it becomes suspicious. These are widely abused drugs.

6 months for example would be suspicious to me for a controlled drug. However my opinion doesn't matter and nor does yours.

This wouldn't even be a story if it was Australia or somewhere like that. However, saying that the UAE should have dealt with this far more quickly and established that it was likely for personal use. I think that is the issue. I would personally get permission from the host country first or get it prescribed there.
 
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http://uae-embassy.ae/Embassies/uk/Content/678

UAE Embassy Advice which the Independent have linked to in a separate article:

Medication

Individuals may bring medicine into the country for their personal use. Up to three months’ supply of a prescription item can be brought into the country by a visitor and 12 months’ supply by a resident if they can produce a doctor’s letter or a copy of the original prescription. Narcotic items can only be brought into the UAE in exceptional cases with prior permission from the director of medicine and pharmacy control. These guidelines relate to medicines brought in by an individual through an airport or border crossing and medicines arriving by post.

Visitors must take care to ensure that medicines and medications prescribed in their home countries are not restricted before travelling to the UAE. The UAE Ministry of Health’s Drug Control Department publishes a list of controlled medicines and medications. Visitors should contact the Ministry of Health drug control department to check whether their medication is on the controlled list, and needs prior permission for importation. The Customer Service Centre of the drug control department can be contacted by emailing [email protected], by telephone on +971 2 611 7240 or by fax +971 2 632 7644.

So a prescription doesn't let you bring in any quantity you want without prior permission.

5 weeks to process this offence is excessive in my opinion. Then again the law isn't about opinions.
 
Here are the UK rules for comparison. Seems to be directed at expats but I guess applies to everyone.

https://www.gov.uk/travelling-controlled-drugs

Get a licence
You’ll need to apply for a licence if you’re either:

  • travelling for 3 months or more
  • carrying a supply of medicine that would last you 3 months or more
How to apply for a licence
Fill in the application form and send it with your letter that proves your prescription to the address on the form.

You should apply at least 10 working days before you’re due to travel. Applications from outside the UK could take longer.
 
I'd really love to go to Dubai, but with all these things going on, I just don't think I'll bother...

Millions of people go through Dubai yearly and something like 99.99999999% have no issues.

Probably got more chance of arrest/harm doing things you already do in day to day life.
 
How did he manage to get 6 months in one go? These days repeat prescriptions only allow a month a time to be requested, plus an additional month for holidays. My surgery will supply a full 12 months worth of prescriptions, but they can only be used one at a time. If I try collecting them too quickly the pharmacy get twitchy and check up.
 
How did he manage to get 6 months in one go? These days repeat prescriptions only allow a month a time to be requested, plus an additional month for holidays. My surgery will supply a full 12 months worth of prescriptions, but they can only be used one at a time. If I try collecting them too quickly the pharmacy get twitchy and check up.

He works offshore for extended periods. He can't exactly nip to Boots to pick up a prescription.
 
Someone on prescription medication for depression and/or anxiety being given access to weapons. Sounds completely safe to me. :)

Would you prefer it was someone with depression/anxiety who wasn't on medication for it?

How about we just shoot all people with mental illness as soon as they are diagnosed, because quite frankly with that kind of disgusting close minded attitude we may as well just write them off completely eh? :rolleyes:
 
Just having a prescription is not a get out of jail card. There may be maximum quantities allowed in the relevant country. If the authorities think you may be intending to distribute then the prescription means nothing. Who knows what other evidence they may have.

Would 12 months supply with prescriptions be okay with you? 2 years?

surely it depends on the reason for needing that quantity... why would you need 2 years etc..? If someone is going to be at sea for close to a year then 12 months supply could well be justifiable

yeah it does seem the rules are for up to 3 months, which the article didn't specify and also doesn't make clear whether he sought prior permission or not, regardless the way he is being treated is ridiculous all the same

Millions of people go through Dubai yearly and something like 99.99999999% have no issues.

Probably got more chance of arrest/harm doing things you already do in day to day life.

Yeah you can get away with a lot over there. There are Russian hookers in all nightclubs, there are gay westerners over there, there are people using drugs etc... chances are you'll be fine if you keep it to the hotels and don't draw attention to yourself in public.

However plenty of people (including people who've been there a few times and will happily trot out the mantra about "different culture, stick to their rules") are still pretty naive re: the actual rules and these can be enforced arbitrarily.

Perhaps you take some tourist pictures, you see a nice palace and take a picture of it... ah but you didn't realise it belonged to Sheik XYZ ... you get arrested for taking a holiday picture... perhaps the palace/embassy/govt building was just in the background of your picture... still a risk.

Your hotel serves alcohol, as a tourist it is illegal for you to drink alcohol, this isn't something the travel advice or hotel will generally tell you.. and 99.9% of the time you'll be fine so long as you're not wandering around drunk outside the hotel... you're still breaking the law though and you could still be arrested for consuming alcohol.

I've spent a bit of time in the region, I've never personally had any issue at all.. I'd not however play down the risks there... you have got more chance of being arrested there IMO and plenty of times it could be for something trivial that you didn't even realise was illegal or even for essentially no reason at all.
 
Would you prefer it was someone with depression/anxiety who wasn't on medication for it?

How about we just shoot all people with mental illness as soon as they are diagnosed, because quite frankly with that kind of disgusting close minded attitude we may as well just write them off completely eh? :rolleyes:

How about the third option. They aren't fit for he job.

He probably couldn't be a pilot for an airliner for example.
 
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