8 Indians Face Death Penalty in Saudi After Drug Smuggling Trap
Eight Indian nationals face execution in Saudi Arabia after being tricked by fake job offers into smuggling drugs disguised as sweets.
Eight Indian nationals are currently fighting for their lives in a Jeddah prison, facing the potential death penalty after being allegedly lured into a sophisticated drug trafficking scheme. The group, which includes individuals from West Bengal and Kerala, was reportedly tricked into becoming drug mules through promises of lucrative employment and religious pilgrimages.
The Lure of High Salaries and Umrah
Among the detainees is 40-year-old Umar Shareef from Thrissur, Kerala. According to his family, Shareef was promised a three-month role as a masonry supervisor in Jeddah, boasting a monthly salary of ₹1 lakh. To make the offer even more enticing, the recruiters promised fully sponsored travel and a free Umrah pilgrimage.
Shareef, a father of two children aged 11 and 4, had been communicating with his family until he was instructed to travel to Coimbatore before his flight to Saudi Arabia. Since his arrival in Jeddah approximately two months ago, all communication with him has ceased.
Disguised as Sweets for Children
The victims claim they were unaware of the illegal contents they were carrying. Relatives stated that the men were given packages which they were told contained sweets intended for children in Palestine and Sudan.
However, the deception was uncovered upon arrival at Jeddah airport. Saudi customs authorities seized approximately 14 kg of Pregabalin (Lyrica) from Shareef, with similar quantities discovered in the possession of the other seven detainees. The group is now being prosecuted under Saudi Arabia’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Law.
Alleged Masterminds and Recruitment Traps
The families of the detainees have pointed fingers at specific individuals they believe orchestrated the trap. Hajara P Y, Shareef’s wife, has alleged that Ashiq Thangal from Kochannoor and Ali from Nannamukku, Malappuram, were the masterminds behind the recruitment process.
This incident has raised serious alarms regarding the safety of Indian workers in the Gulf, highlighting a growing trend where unscrupulous recruitment agents exploit unsuspecting job seekers to serve as drug mules.
Diplomatic and Legal Intervention
The gravity of the situation has prompted high-level political intervention. In September, Malappuram MP E T Mohammed Basheer formally wrote to India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, submitting a complaint and requesting urgent consular assistance and legal aid for the detained men.
The Indian Consulate General in Jeddah has confirmed that it is actively engaging with Saudi authorities. Officials stated they are providing regular updates to the families and are currently exploring all available legal support options to assist the detainees during their prosecution.