A young British man is confronting the terrifying prospect of a lengthy prison sentence in Qatar, accused of attempting to traffic cannabis into the Gulf state.
Arrest at Doha Airport During Layover
Lino Neil, an 18-year-old from Drymen, Scotland, was detained at Hamad International Airport in Doha on November 21. He was transiting through the Qatari capital on his journey back to Scotland from Thailand, where he had been working in fishing.
The teenager asserts that he was not a willing participant in any drug smuggling operation. He claims a criminal gang coerced him into carrying a package across international borders, threatening severe consequences for him and his family if he refused.
Family's Desperate Plea and Mounting Costs
His family, now facing a legal nightmare thousands of miles from home, insist Lino was exploited. They have already had to raise £2,500 to secure a lawyer ahead of his court appearance and could be liable for total legal costs reaching £40,000.
His mother, Nicola, 49, told the Daily Record her son was manipulated. "He is just a teenage boy, a baby, and he has no contacts in Thailand and he'd have no way of setting up any kind of drug deal," she said. "It's so obvious that he has been exploited and abused by gangsters and I really just want him home."
Nicola revealed Lino, who only turned 18 a month before his arrest, had been controlled by a British man. She said he had phoned her weeks before his flight, terrified, stating the gang had a hold over him and had threatened to harm his family.
Harsh Conditions and Impending Trial
The situation has taken a severe toll on Lino's mental and physical health. His family report he was initially held in a crowded airport cell with around 80 other men before being moved to Doha's Central Prison. They say he has lost significant weight due to a lack of food and has expressed suicidal thoughts.
His older brother, Robbie, 28, dismissed the idea his brother could mastermind a drug deal, stating: "He's just a wee laddie who knows more about fishing than anything else. We just need to get him home."
Lino's court hearing is scheduled for January 27, where his defence will argue he was forced to smuggle the cannabis. A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson confirmed they are supporting the detained British man and are in contact with both his family and Qatari authorities.
This case emerges amidst a worrying trend of young Britons facing serious drug smuggling allegations and severe sentences in foreign jurisdictions.
