Don't get caught with drugs in Dubai...

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-- Don't get caught with drugs in Dubai...

Posted by DJ Reese on Aug-08-2008 22:01:

Don't get caught with drugs in Dubai...

Legendary drum and bass Dj, "Grooverider" will be jailed in Dubai following an arrest for drug possession. The Dj, dubbed the "godfather" of the drum and bass scene was caught with marijuana in his possession and given the minimum sentence of four years imprisonment.

Flying in for a nightclub gig in November he was caught at the airport with 2.16g of cannabis in his luggage. He stated in an interview afterwards, "I must have forgotten the spliff, it was a small amount. Back home I would not even get prosecuted."

Four years is the minimum sentence for drug trafficking in the United Arab Emirates and on Monday February 18th 2008, this sentence was handed down to Grooverider (known to his passport as Raymond Bingham) . It was also reported in the Dubai press that following a urine test, Bingham had traces of drugs in his system. In 2006 R&B vocalist, Dallas Austin was also arrested in the United Emirates after being found guilty of bringing cocaine into the country. After lobbying Utah senator Orrin Hatch, Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie, (who is hugely popular in Dubai), the singer was released and deported.

Grooverider was not as lucky as his American counterpart, as there was a lack of backing from his employers in the UK. The British Embassy had been in touch with the Dj but no other information on their involvement has been released.

The severity of his sentence has sparked much debate on internet forums, with fans believing the sentence too harsh for such a small quantity of drugs in possession, but there are precedent cases of much more severe punishments for smaller crimes, as the Dubai authorities take a hardline attitude to drugs. Should Grooverider have known the laws and respected them ? Whats legal in one country , is completely untolerated in another. It also raises the debate , would a severely hardline attitude to drug possession work in Europe ?

Posted by Nerologic on Aug-08-2008 22:10:

Welcome to February of 2008

I hope you enjoyed your stay.

Posted by 72hrpartyanimal on Aug-08-2008 22:11:

LOL @ Jeremy!!

dont worry bro... happens to me ALL THE TIME!!!

Posted by DJ Reese on Aug-08-2008 22:19:

quote:
Originally posted by Nerologic
Welcome to February of 2008

I hope you enjoyed your stay.

I posted that one cause it's more interesting. I should have just gave the link to the whole thing. Here's today's article about him getting released.

http://www.bodytonicmusic.com/news/...waiting-pardon/

Posted by R!CH on Aug-08-2008 22:20:

i'll just stick to don't get caught with drugs anywhere

Posted by bigperf on Aug-08-2008 22:24:

just say no!

Posted by Hypersky on Aug-08-2008 22:28:

The entire story reads like something out of "The Onion". You mean Grooveriders passport doesn't say Grooverider in it ? Lionel Ritchie hugely popular in Dubai ? I've never heard of that one.

Posted by Hypersky on Aug-08-2008 22:30:

BTW....Dubai is a bit rubbish. A completely artificial, characterless city.

Posted by CND on Aug-08-2008 22:41:

quote:
Originally posted by Hypersky
BTW....Dubai is a bit rubbish. A completely artificial, characterless city.

Like Las Vegas?

Posted by R!CH on Aug-08-2008 22:44:

quote:
Originally posted by CND
Like Las Vegas?

vegas meets disneyworld

Posted by Hypersky on Aug-08-2008 22:49:

Vegas meets disneyworld is spot on. You feel like you're playing in some rich Sheikh's fantasy playground that wouldn't otherwise exist if not for the oil. The one thing that's staggering is the amount of cranes you see when you go there. There seems to be more construction than actual living going on.

Posted by Allayla on Aug-08-2008 22:53:

What an idiot.

Posted by snatonsb on Aug-08-2008 23:20:

Thats some bs right there! Power to the ganja smokers! WOO HOO!!!