Dubai: An Italian visitor is on trial for smuggling and possessing 0.01 gram of hashish for personal use.

He faces imprisonment if he is found guilty later this month.

"I didn't intend to bring the drugs. I forgot it in the inner pocket of my jacket," the 24-year-old visitor, identified as A.D., told the Dubai Court of First Instance.

The Public Prosecution had charged the suspect with illegally possessing the drugs with the intent to personally use them.

Customs search

"I forgot it in my clothes before coming here. I am so sorry for that," A.D. told presiding judge Abdul Majid Al Nezamy yesterday.

The custom's inspector who seized the drugs said in his statement: "I suspected the visitor at Dubai airport's customs desk and asked to search him."

There is zero-tolerance for narcotics in the country, police officials said.