Bahrain: Three Asian men arrested and now on trial for cannabis import and drug trafficking

The High Criminal Court in Bahrain has officially opened trial proceedings against three Asian men accused of importing cannabis with the intent to traffic. The case, which began with a suspicious overseas parcel intercepted at customs, has since uncovered a broader trafficking network allegedly led by one of the defendants. The next court session is scheduled for September 9.

Trial begins, court sets key deadlines
The High Criminal Court has initiated formal proceedings in a drug import and trafficking case involving three Asian nationals aged 23, 26, and 30. The defendants are accused of importing cannabis into Bahrain in 2025 with the intent to distribute, in direct violation of the Kingdom's narcotics laws.

As reported by The Daily Tribune, the court has set the date of September 9, 2025, to address several procedural matters:

• Notification of the third defendant
  
• Appointment of legal representation for the second defendant
  
• A deadline for the first defendant’s legal counsel to examine case materials and respond
  
  

The trial follows an in-depth investigation led by the Public Prosecution and the Anti-Narcotics Directorate, initiated after Bahraini customs flagged a suspicious package at the airport.

Investigation triggered by customs interception
The case originated when a customs officer at Bahrain International Airport noticed irregularities with a parcel arriving from overseas. The package was inspected with the assistance of a sniffer dog, which led to the discovery of 0.95 kilograms of cannabis inside.

Following standard procedure, authorities seized the package and handed it over to the Anti-Narcotics Directorate for a formal investigation. Tracing the parcel led investigators to the first defendant, who became the central point of contact in the smuggling attempt.

In a controlled operation, authorities replaced the contents of the original parcel with a decoy. A confidential source then coordinated with the first defendant to collect the delivery. The suspect was arrested immediately after signing for the package.

Undercover operation uncovers wider drug network
Once in custody, the first defendant reportedly contacted the third defendant to notify him of the parcel’s arrival. According to investigators, arrangements were made at that point to facilitate the package’s retrieval.

The third defendant, who had previously been deported from Bahrain, allegedly instructed the second defendant to collect the package. Authorities, who had released the first defendant under surveillance, were able to arrest the second defendant during the attempted pickup.

Further inquiries revealed that the third defendant was orchestrating a drug trafficking network from abroad. He allegedly oversaw the smuggling of narcotics into Bahrain and coordinated their internal distribution.

• The first defendant was reportedly responsible for receiving the shipments and distributing them to local contacts.
  
• The second defendant’s role, according to the investigation, was to store, divide, and hand over the drugs to street-level dealers in return for payment.
  
  

Evidence and confessions support prosecution’s case
During questioning by the Public Prosecution, the first defendant confessed to collecting the drug parcel on instructions from the third defendant, with the intention of transferring it to the second defendant.

A video found on the first defendant’s phone detailed the logistics for distribution and sales of the narcotics. Additionally, forensic testing confirmed the seized material was indeed an illegal narcotic.

As the case moves forward, Bahraini authorities continue to urge the public to remain vigilant. Individuals with any information regarding drug trafficking activities are encouraged to report through the following confidential channels:

• Hotline: 996
  
• Emergency Line: 999
  
• Email: 996@interior.gov.bh
  

Authorities assure that all tips will be treated with complete confidentiality and that support is available 24/7.

Bahrain’s strict drug laws and severe penalties

Marijuana and its derivatives, including CBD oil, are strictly prohibited in Bahrain for both medical and recreational use. Despite being seen as socially liberal compared to some neighbors, Bahrain maintains a firm zero-tolerance policy against illegal narcotics.

Cannabis is classified as a Schedule I narcotic under Bahraini law, specifically governed by Law Number 15 of 2007, which criminalizes possession, consumption, cultivation, import, export, manufacture, and transfer of such substances. The law imposes harsh punishments on offenders, including heavy fines, lengthy imprisonment, and even the death penalty in severe cases.

Penalties can reach up to 50,000 Bahraini dinars and lifetime imprisonment. The death penalty is reserved for repeat offenders, public officials involved in trafficking, those who exploit minors for drug smuggling, and individuals collaborating with international criminal gangs operating within Bahrain’s borders.

The Kingdom’s robust law enforcement measures include specialized anti-narcotics units dedicated to intercepting and dismantling drug trafficking networks. These strict regulations underscore Bahrain’s commitment to deterring drug-related crimes, providing the legal framework underpinning the current trial against the three accused men.