Two French influencers detained in Dubai on drug possession charges
Océane El Himer and Léa Mary, known for their participation in reality television programmes, were arrested on 22 September in Dubai with a third influencer.
Océane El Himer and Léa Mary questioned in the United Arab Emirates
Two French influencers were taken into custody on Tuesday 22 September in Dubai on suspicion of "possession and consumption of narcotic drugs", according to lefigaro.fr. Océane El Himer, 31, and Léa Mary, 26, together have three million followers on Instagram. A third content creator, known by the pseudonym Amirrlife, was also detained as part of the investigation.
A diplomatic source confirmed to Le Figaro that "the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs was informed of the arrest of three French nationals" on Tuesday 22 September in Dubai. The French consulate general on the ground is "mobilised, as with any French national who requests it, to exercise consular protection, in liaison with local authorities", the same source said.
Known faces from reality television
Océane El Himer made her television debut in 2017 in the programme "Les Princes et les Princesses de l'amour" on W9, alongside her twin sister Marine. A former shop assistant and waitress, she subsequently appeared in "Les Marseillais" and other similar programmes before turning to influencing and modelling. In 2021, she announced on her social networks that she was moving to Dubai with her sister. She currently has one million followers on Instagram.
Léa Mary first built her online community before gaining public recognition through the same programme "Les Princes et les Princesses de l'amour" in 2019. She claims two million followers on Instagram and over 530,000 on TikTok. Despite her detention, her Instagram account remains active, fed by pre-recorded stories or managed by a community manager.
Amirrlife, for his part, is a content creator specialising in investment advice, followed by 160,000 subscribers on Instagram.
One of the world's strictest drug legislations
The United Arab Emirates applies one of the strictest regulations regarding narcotics. The importation, possession and consumption of illicit substances are prohibited, even in minute quantities. The minimum sentence is two years imprisonment, which can reach fifteen years in case of aggravating circumstances or repeat offence. These provisions apply equally to residents, visitors and tourists, who may be convicted and subsequently expelled from the territory.
Source: Google News FR — Crime (fr)