Sharjah Prosecutor Shares Harrowing Drug Cases That Tore Families Apart

A daughter reported her father to police before Eid; an elderly man begged authorities not to release his addicted son. Sharjah's chief prosecutor shares real cases.

Daughter, Father Among Victims as Sharjah Prosecutor Exposes Drug Addiction's Family Toll

A teenage girl reported her own father to police days before Eid. An elderly man in his 70s begged prosecutors not to release his addicted son. A man found caked in mud and sand told officers he believed he was a cat. These are not invented scenarios — they are real cases recalled by Counselor Musab Mohammed Al Kamali, Chief Prosecutor at the Public Prosecution of Sharjah Emirate, as reported by Google News AE.

Al Kamali shared the accounts during an appearance on Sharjah TV's Qadiya Lil Hiwar ("An issue for discussion"), where he warned that drug addiction is fracturing households across the emirate and urged families to seek help at the first sign of a problem.

A Family That Could Not Celebrate Eid

The girl approached authorities during the final ten days of Ramadan, as preparations for Eid were under way. She told police her father was addicted to drugs. Officers placed him under surveillance, confirmed his drug use and arrested him.

When asked why she had turned in her own father, her answer was direct: "We want to celebrate Eid."

She explained that her father's behaviour, when under the influence, prevented the family from visiting relatives. Acquaintances, in turn, avoided coming to the house because of how he acted. The family did eventually celebrate Eid — but the father spent the holiday in prison.

Al Kamali said the case illustrated how addiction reaches far beyond the individual. It isolates families, damages relationships and generates fear within the home.

Elderly Father Feared His Own Son

In a separate case, a father in his 70s came to the prosecutor's office after his addicted son's conduct had turned aggressive and unpredictable. His plea was stark: "Please, don't release my son."

He described a household that could no longer sleep or function normally. The family was afraid to confront the son, unsure how he might react. According to Al Kamali, the son had raised a knife on multiple occasions, leaving relatives in constant fear of serious injury.

The prosecutor said the case showed how addiction can convert a family home into a place of permanent anxiety — with relatives enduring threats and sleeplessness while still attempting to support the person in crisis.

A Man Who Believed He Was a Cat

Al Kamali also described an encounter with a man found with his clothes covered in mud and sand. When questioned, the man said he believed he was a cat. He had hidden beneath parked vehicles and alongside walls, apparently convinced he was behaving like an animal.

The prosecutor cited the incident as evidence of the extreme psychological consequences that can follow drug use. What begins as experimentation can ultimately distort a person's judgement and perception of reality, he said.

One Experiment, a Ruined Future

A fourth case involved a young man who convinced himself he could try drugs once without consequence. What followed was a gradual deterioration: his mood shifted, his behaviour became erratic and he grew distant from his family. Ordinary conversations became strained. His studies suffered. His relationships and future prospects narrowed.

Al Kamali said this case reflected how curiosity or peer pressure can escalate into a serious, long-term dependency.

Dealers Now Use WhatsApp, Telegram and Instagram

Beyond the individual cases, Al Kamali warned that the methods used by drug dealers have changed significantly. Dealers increasingly exploit digital platforms — WhatsApp, Telegram and Instagram among them — to contact potential users, promote substances and arrange transactions without any face-to-face interaction.

"Today we live in an electronic age where the world has become a small village. Just as people use technology for good purposes, criminals use it for harmful purposes," he said.

Dealers may send unsolicited messages to large numbers of people, offering free initial samples or encouraging first-time use. A customer who shows interest can receive photographs and precise instructions indicating where drugs have been left — under a stone, beneath a vehicle or in another concealed spot.

"The traditional hand-to-hand drug deal has become less common," Al Kamali said, noting that technology allows dealers to expand their reach while minimising their own exposure.

"The First Dose May Be Free"

Al Kamali said curiosity remains the primary reason young people first try drugs. Dealers frequently frame substances as tools for gaining energy, confidence or concentration. The promise of a free first dose is a common recruitment tactic.

"The first dose may be free. It may be presented as an experiment or a harmless experience. But one dose can be enough to destroy a life," he warned.

He also cautioned that physiological responses to the same substance can vary significantly between individuals. A drug tolerated by one person could cause cardiac complications, organ failure or death in another.

The prosecutor specifically addressed the false belief that drugs can enhance academic or athletic performance. Such substances may produce a temporary sense of control or clarity while causing compounding physical, psychological and social damage.

He also challenged the notion that users can stop at will, noting that many only recognise they have lost control once addiction has already taken hold — by which point the consequences for their families and their own lives can be severe and lasting.

Source: Google News AE