An Indian-origin man was sentenced to death by a court in Saudi Arabia on charges of drug trafficking.

Zaid Junaid (35), a resident of Rachauti village in UP went to Saudi Arabia in 2018 to work as a driver, as per media reports.

As an employee at Al-Zafar Company, Junaid was arrested on January 15, 2023, after police claimed to have found 700 grams of narcotics in a vehicle he was driving.

He has since been imprisoned in Jeddah Central Jail. 

A court in Mecca recently sentenced him to death for drug smuggling. However, his family has claimed he was framed.

Junaid’s troubles began when his vehicle was stolen and recovered by Saudi police after three days. Shortly after, the vehicle was damaged in an accident, prompting his employer to sue him for repair costs.

Unable to bear the financial strain, Junaid left the job and became a personal driver for a Saudi police officer.

Three months later, he was accused of drug smuggling after authorities allegedly found 700 gm of narcotics in the vehicle he was driving. 

His family members have been informed about the option of filing a mercy plea, according to reports.

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