A passenger is targeted by Qatari customs officials during baggage screening at Doha Airport. Officers found several hundred grams of marijuana and painkillers in his suitcase. Because the Gulf Emirates has a zero-tolerance policy on drugs, the man faces a long prison sentence.
World Cup hosts Qatar have announced the first find of drugs during the tournament, including tramadol, a painkiller widely used in football. Customs officials at Doha’s Hamad International Airport said on Twitter that they had “frustrated the smuggling” of 1990 tramadol tablets and 464.5 grams of hashish. The illegal substances were found when customs officials checked the luggage of a suspected passenger.
The authorities initially did not provide information on the nationality of the passenger; according to an official who wished to remain anonymous, the passenger must appear in court. The Gulf Emirate has strict laws regarding drug possession. They provide for long prison sentences, heavy fines and deportation.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) plans to add tramadol, an addictive synthetic opiate, to its banned list from 2024. It’s already banned in cycling.
