‘Many Caught as Carriers’: Indian Embassy Raises Awareness about Qatar’s Laws on Drugs –

In the wake of a number of cases where Indians were caught at Doha International Airport for allegedly carrying narcotic substances, the Embassy of India and Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF), an organisation that works under the aegis of the diplomatic mission, organised an online seminar on Tuesday to highlight Qatar’s rules on restricted substances. The officials who hosted the seminar urged Indians to observe due caution and follow Qatar’s laws while travelling to the country.

Senior officials from the Indian embassy said the seminar was aimed at raising awareness about Qatar’s rules and regulations regarding banned narcotics and the import of restricted psychoactive and psychotropic drugs and substances.

There are roughly over eight lakh Indians staying in Qatar of which about half are from the state of Kerala.

“A number of Indians are caught as they are used as carriers by those running narcotics syndicates. They are caught and then have no immediate family members to help them in the legal hassle. At any given time there are about 50-60 such cases involving Indians who eventually land in jails of Qatar,” an official from the seminar said.

The seminar was addressed by the ambassador of India to Qatar, Vipul, first secretary Eish Singhal, and ICBF president Shanavas Bava.

In his remarks, the ambassador highlighted Qatar’s rules for bringing restricted and other medicines into the country and the prohibition on bringing narcotic substances.

He urged Indians to observe due caution and follow Qatar’s laws while travelling to the country.

Singhal presented some case studies in which Indians received prison sentences for carrying narcotics or restricted drugs. In some cases, those sentenced claimed that they had been handed over a packet by agents when they travelled to Qatar and the packet was found to contain prohibited or restricted items when they landed, he said.

The ICBF president also spoke on the issue and requested civil society organisations including those in India to spread awareness about the strict laws in Qatar on consumption or trafficking of drugs and prohibited substances.

He also underlined assistance extended by the Embassy of India and ICBF to Indian prisoners such as legal counselling and some financial assistance in emergencies.

The seminar was also attended by Indian community members and stakeholders from Doha and India among others.