The Criminal Court has sentenced Ibrahim Nazim, the owner of G. Pelican House, to 10 years in prison for allowing drug trafficking and peddling at the property.

The case relates to a police operation at the three-storey residence on 20 January, following information that drugs were being sold and used there. During a search of the ground floor, police found varying amounts of cannabis in the presence of two suspects, Amjad Riqab and Mohamed Naif.

Police had previously investigated the property on several occasions over allegations of drug-related activities dating back to 2014.

Nazim denied the charges, saying the ground floor had been rented to Amjad and another individual and that he had cooperated with police. However, the Criminal Court found that the evidence showed the ground floor lacked basic facilities associated with residential use, including adequate cooking, sleeping and other household facilities.

The court concluded that Nazim had allowed the premises under his control to be used for drug trafficking and peddling, and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.