A 23-year-old British woman has been sentenced to life imprisonment in Dubai after being caught with drugs, sparking an emotional plea from her family.
Mia O’Brien, originally from Liverpool in the United Kingdom, was described by her mother as a “good girl who made a very stupid mistake”. The law student had reportedly fallen in with the wrong crowd before her arrest, which left her facing one of the strictest legal systems in the world.
Her mother, Danielle McKenna, 46, revealed that Mia is now held in Dubai’s central prison. “She has never done a bad thing in her life, but now she is paying the price for one mistake,” Danielle said in interviews with British media.
Fundraising Efforts Shut Down
In a bid to support her daughter, Danielle launched a GoFundMe campaign. The funds were intended for legal fees, living expenses in prison, and possibly for the family to travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to visit Mia.
The fundraiser initially aimed for £1,600 (S$2,777) and had gathered close to £700 (S$1,215). However, the page was later removed by the platform. GoFundMe explained that it violated their rules against fundraising for the legal defence of certain crimes, including drug-related offences.
The setback has left Mia’s family without immediate financial support, deepening the strain as they try to navigate the legal complexities of the UAE’s justice system.
Harsh Penalties for Drug Possession in UAE
Although details of the case were not immediately disclosed, subsequent reports stated that Mia had been found in possession of 50 grams of cocaine. In the UAE, possession of such quantities often results in severe punishment, including life imprisonment.
A life sentence in Dubai typically ranges between 15 and 25 years. Convictions for drug trafficking, possession, and related offences are treated with zero tolerance, reflecting the country’s strict stance on narcotics.
The British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office confirmed that it is providing consular support to Mia’s family and is in contact with UAE authorities.
For now, Mia’s family continues to hold on to hope, even as her mother says, “She’s going through it at the minute.” The case has highlighted once again the risks young travellers face when ignoring local laws abroad, particularly in countries with strict anti-drug policies.