Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai
Dubai, Sep 13: A 23-year-old British law student, Mia O’Brien, from Huyton in Merseyside, has been sentenced to 25 years in Dubai’s Central Prison after being convicted of drug trafficking, following her October arrest when authorities found 50 grams of cocaine in her apartment. Despite pleading not guilty, she was convicted in a single-day court hearing on July 25 and fined £100,000 under the United Arab Emirates’ notoriously strict narcotics laws.
The cocaine, reportedly discovered as a single large lump, led local authorities to charge her with intent to supply — one of the most serious drug offences in the country. Mia was arrested alongside a friend and the friend’s boyfriend, both of whom face similar charges.
Her imprisonment in Dubai Central Prison has raised serious human rights concerns. The facility is known for overcrowded, inhumane conditions, and past allegations of abuse, including torture and sexual violence. Mia's mother, Danielle McKenna, said her daughter is sharing a cramped cell with six other women and is “absolutely devastated,” adding that Mia’s dream of becoming a lawyer has been “shattered overnight.”
Communication with Mia is limited, and monitored, leaving the family with little clarity on her treatment. “She can’t say too much on the phone,” her mother explained.
In a desperate attempt to raise funds for legal appeals, Danielle launched a GoFundMe campaign — only for it to be removed by the platform for violating its terms, which prohibit fundraising for legal defence in certain criminal cases. Danielle responded by turning to Facebook, where she began posting her bank details and asking supporters to send donations directly, bypassing platform restrictions and fees.
Public reaction has been mixed, but many have shown support, echoing Danielle’s description of her daughter as a “bright, well-meaning young woman who made a very stupid mistake.” The family maintains that Mia was influenced by the wrong crowd and never intended to become involved in drug dealing.
Under UAE law, drug trafficking can lead to life imprisonment or, in rare cases, the death penalty. Although 25 years is classified as a "life sentence" in the Emirates, Mia’s family is now focusing on filing appeals and calling for diplomatic support. So far, no official statement has been released by the UK government, but consular assistance is often extended in similar cases.
The case has sparked renewed attention to the dangers posed by even small quantities of drugs in the Middle East and the extreme consequences of violating local laws — especially for young foreign nationals. Mia’s future now hinges on a complex legal battle and the outcome of international diplomatic efforts that may or may not intervene in time.