A passenger who was caught with 312g of hashish seeds at Abu Dhabi International Airport claimed that he didn't know that the drugs were prohibited in the UAE.

The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court heard the Pakistani man, who was caught by customs officials a few months ago as he tried to smuggle the drugs into the country.

Court documents stated the man was stopped at the airport after custom officers suspected him of carrying drugs. He had arrived on a flight from Pakistan. When security officers checked his bag, they found hashish seeds hidden in the corner linings of his bag. His urine samples also tested positive for hashish.

Prosecutors charged him with consuming drugs and trying to smuggle hashish into the UAE. During his interview at the public prosecution, the man denied having knowledge of the drugs.

But in court, he admitted to carrying hashish in his bag claiming that he didn't know it was illegal. "I didn't know that hashish seeds were banned in the UAE," said the Pakistani.

"The hashish seeds are commonly used in my country as painkillers and I had carried them as medicines for my personal use."

The man also pleaded to the judge to be lenient on him because it was his first to visit the UAE and didn't know much about the country laws.

The trial was adjourned until September 11.

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