Russian Tourist Faces Death Penalty in UAE After 17 Kilos of Drugs Found in Her Luggage

A young woman from Russia’s Ivanovo region is facing execution in the United Arab Emirates after authorities discovered 17 kilograms of cannabis in her suitcase. According to the Telegram channel Mash, the tourist had flown to Dubai from Thailand with a British acquaintance, whom she met while working as a club dancer in Bangkok to save money for a flight home. She had planned to return to Russia in August.

Relatives say the man offered to take her to the UAE, handled her passport, and booked their tickets. Her mother believes he deliberately chose a flight with checked baggage to smuggle the drugs. Before leaving Bangkok, the Briton swapped suitcases with a contact, telling the woman the bag contained diving equipment. She texted a friend, admitting she was nervous.

At Dubai airport, customs officers searched her luggage and found the cannabis. The British man tried to blame the Russian woman, but both were arrested. The Russian embassy in the UAE has provided no information to the family. They have hired a lawyer for 2 million rubles, who has requested CCTV footage from Bangkok airport, fingerprint analysis from the luggage, and a forensic examination. Relatives have started a fundraising campaign to cover legal costs.

This case follows a similar incident in Bali, where a Russian tattoo artist, Ksenia Varlamova, faces life in prison after her husband grew marijuana in their home.