Perry Coppins spent five weeks in custody after customs officials decided he was carrying too many pills to treat his illness

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A British man who was imprisoned in Dubai for five weeks because customs officials thought he was carrying too many medical pills has been allowed to return home.

Perry Coppins, 61, a maritime security officer from Nottingham, was arrested on 1 November after arriving in the United Arab Emirates with his medicine, which is legal there, along with his prescription. He said he needed sufficient medication to last him for a six-month trip.

The campaign group Detained in Dubai (DiD) said charges against Coppins had now been dropped and his passport had been returned to him.

Coppins was said to have been left short of cash after spending his savings on legal and living expenses as he waited for court hearings.

DiD said he was denied his medication while in custody and he suffered severe withdrawal symptoms including hallucinations, bouts of blindness and weight loss.

The group’s chief executive, Radha Stirling, said: “We welcome the decision by Dubai authorities to take the humane and sensible course with Perry. This case should never have escalated to the point of criminal charges, but without the scrutiny of the international media it is unlikely that Perry would be a free man tonight.

“In the absence of such attention, what was essentially a misjudgment by one customs official turned into a life-threatening situation for Perry.”

Dubai has been criticised repeatedly for its harsh criminal justice standards. Scotland Yard’s war crimes unit is assessing a request in a separate case to investigate allegations that UAE security officials and politicians authorised the torture of three Qatari citizens in the UAE.

According to Detained in Dubai, the UAE has issued more Interpol red notices per head of population than any other country.