Kerala man who visited Saudi Arabia for umrah was jailed for months: Here's why

Mustafa Pambodan, a native of Malappuram, offers a word of advice to those planning to travel to Saudi Arabia. A small packet containing a few seemingly harmless medicines given by his neighbour landed him in a Saudi jail for over four months. Saudi Arabia has strict rules and regulations regarding the importation of certain medicines or herbs into the country. Possession of such things is a serious offence that attracts a jail term and other penalties. Mustafa, who reached Saudi Arabia to perform the umrah, could return only after a year, as it took around eight months to complete the legal formalities.

Mustafa and his family landed in Jeddah on July 24 last year for the umrah. The customs officials apprehended Mustafa after finding an excessive number of medicines in his luggage. The customs then handed the family over to the drug control department. As Mustafa wasn’t fluent in Arabic, he didn’t understand why he was detained at the airport. He couldn’t communicate with the officers or explain his innocence to them.

He could explain that the medicines were for a friend only during the lengthy interrogation at the Sharaya jail in Mecca with the help of a Malayali interpreter. Meanwhile, the police had arrested the person, a native of Valluvambram in Malappuram, who was supposed to receive the medicines. After an investigation of 15 days, Mustafa and the other person were transferred to the wing for drug offenders at the main jail in Shumais.

The authorities allowed Mustafa’s wife and children to leave the jail premises after his friend, Subair, a businessman in Mecca, intervened. They were later deported to India. Mustafa could prove his innocence only after serving a four-month jail term and the subsequent legal procedures.

The medicine packet that landed him in jail
Mustafa’s neighbour in his hometown gave him a small medicine packet to be handed to his friend in Mecca. The packet contained 180 tablets that were used as painkillers. Mustafa didn’t enquire about the contents of the packet as he trusted his neighbour. He kept the medicine packet safely in his luggage without glancing at what was inside it. Besides, this was his first flight experience. A prescription from a private hospital in Manjeri was also included in the packet. However, the packet contained medicines that could be brought to Saudi Arabia only in limited quantities, and even then, only with a prescription from a doctor approved in the country.

Although the medicine wasn’t banned in Saudi Arabia, it was strictly regulated as it is commonly used by drug addicts. So, the prescription given by the doctor in Kerala didn’t prove helpful in the Saudi drug control department’s investigation.

He was released from jail after serving a four-and-a-half-month prison term. But, Mustafa had to remain in Saudi Arabia for another seven and a half months to resolve other legal issues. He could prove his innocence only because the man who was supposed to receive the medicine was willing to appear before the authorities and explain the situation. The man who was working in Mecca was also sentenced to six months' imprisonment and deportation. He has been released now, after spending almost nine months in jail. He would soon be deported after completing the legal process. Meanwhile, the validity of Mustafa’s umrah visa expired. He had been staying with a friend in Mecca until the legal issues were solved.

Mustafa had been doing odd jobs in Kerala to make ends meet. His family struggled hard for over nine months as the only earning member was in jail in Saudi Arabia. It was a bunch of friends who knew his innocence and helped and supported him during this ordeal. After completing all the necessary legal procedures, Mustafa successfully performed the Umrah before returning to Kerala a few days ago. Subair, Mustafa’s neighbour in his hometown of Shamsheer, a hotel owner in Panoor, and Ashraf had helped Mustafa during his time in Saudi Arabia.

Word of caution
The Saudi Arabian authorities had released a list of medicines that are either banned or restricted in the country. Many medicines that are legal in other countries may be banned in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, there are restrictions on bringing an excess amount of certain medications. A prescription from an approved doctor in Saudi Arabia is required to bring certain Indian medicines. Therefore, passengers must check the list released by the Saudi authorities before carrying their medicines, along with the bill and prescription from Indian doctors. One would offer to deliver packages containing medicines or other things that seem harmless, thinking that it is a simple favour. However, Mustafa’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for people who take such risks without understanding the laws and regulations of the country they are travelling to.

Saudi Arabia has strict drug laws. Severe punishment, including the death penalty, awaits offenders arrested in drug-related cases. Therefore, those travelling to Saudi Arabia for the first time or planning to visit the country to perform the Umrah should ensure that their luggage doesn’t contain any banned substances.