The Cassation Court issued a final verdict on 15 October upholding a ruling against a Gulf national convicted of drug charges. The court confirmed that the individual must pay a fine of BD100 and face permanent deportation from Bahrain.
Proceedings against the defendant originated in the Lower Criminal Court following an investigation by the Anti-Narcotics Directorate near the King Fahad Causeway. Legal authorities maintained the penalty after the defendant exhausted all available appeals. The decision marks the conclusion of the case, mandating that the Gulf national leave the country permanently upon completion of the judicial process.
Arrest at the Causeway
Police officers from the Anti-Narcotics Directorate arrested the defendant in June 2025. The Gulf national attempted to enter Bahrain via the King Fahad Causeway while concealing a quantity of Lyrica pills inside his sock. According to court documents, "He ran fast, heading to one of the causeway’s restaurants to ask for help, but police arrested him shortly thereafter."
The arrest occurred after officers identified the defendant during routine security checks at the border crossing. Following the discovery of the illicit substances, the individual was taken into custody and subsequently referred to the Lower Criminal Court to face formal charges. These events established the initial legal basis for the proceedings that ultimately moved through the judicial system to the Cassation Court. The defendant remained in custody throughout the duration of the trial as the case progressed through the relevant Bahraini courts.
Escape and Subsequent Capture
Customs officers informed the defendant that he would be handed over to the Anti-Narcotics Directorate, prompting him to flee the customs office. Court documents stated, "He felt fear and anxiety, so he fled the customs office, even though he knew he was in custody." This flight occurred at the border crossing following the initial discovery of the illicit substances inside his sock.
Medical research notes the clinical risks associated with the substance the defendant attempted to smuggle. A health study indicated that 60 percent of patients presenting to an emergency department with seizures had used Lyrica. The same health study found that 20 percent of patients presenting with seizures related to Lyrica use required intensive care unit admission. These findings detail the medical impact observed in cases involving the drug, which authorities intercepted during the security checks at the King Fahad Causeway. The defendant remained under the supervision of law enforcement following his capture and throughout the subsequent legal proceedings in the Bahraini courts.
