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22h ago

British Law Student Handed 25 Years in Dubai After Cocaine Seizure at Party

A former cellmate’s account has renewed attention to the case, with the family fundraising to appeal the one‑day Arabic verdict and £100,000 fine.

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Overview

  • Mia O’Brien, 24, was convicted on July 25 after a one‑day trial conducted in Arabic and was sentenced to 25 years in prison plus a 500,000 dirham (£100,000) fine.
  • Dubai police reportedly seized about 50g of cocaine during an October raid on a flat where O’Brien, a British friend and the friend’s boyfriend were arrested.
  • The friend, identified as Emma, tested negative for cocaine and was released without charge, while her boyfriend received the same 25‑year term as O’Brien.
  • O’Brien spent months in Al Barsha detention centre before being moved to Al Awir prison, with a former detainee and her mother describing overcrowded, harsh conditions.
  • Media reports cite a former cellmate who says O’Brien admitted taking a single line and denied dealing, as her mother’s GoFundMe was removed and a new fundraiser launched on GiveSendGo ahead of an expected appeal.