St. Louis native stuck in Dubai over gun smuggling case

stltoday.com ^ | Joel Currier

[marktwain]

ST. LOUIS • A St. Louis native stuck in Dubai for months awaiting trial on gun smuggling charges said he was acquitted today on all counts.

Steve Dolan, 57, a Dubai-based vice president for international shipping firm APL, said he faced up to 50 years behind bars after authorities told him they found some 30,000 knock-off pistols in a shipping container last fall. The container, which also held liquid soap, was apparently switching ships in Dubai while en route from Turkey to Djibouti.

[marktwain]

30,000 pistols is a significant amount. Djibouti is between Somalia and Eritria on the horn of Africa's east coast. It used to be part of French Somaliland.

It is hard to believe the pistols could wholesale for less than $100 each, which would make the cash value about $3,000,000. Maybe it was some stimulus money.../S

[marktwain]

Eritria should be Eritrea.

[Fido969]

Wonder what kind of knock-offs they were?

[Gay State Conservative]

After having spent a few says in Dubai I know of places that would be worse in which to spend 50 years.But only one or two.