British Footballer Jailed in Dubai Over CBD Oil Shock
Young Londoner Arrested Days After Moving
Billy Hood, 24, from Notting Hill, west London, was arrested in Dubai just days after relocating there on January 31. The ex-semi-pro footballer, who played for Kensington and Ealing Borough FC, claims he was forced to sign a confession in Arabic — a language he doesn’t speak.
Drug Trafficking Charge Over Legal UK CBD Oil
Dubai police stormed Billy’s home and car without warning, detaining him in a solitary cell for 14 days with no access to hygiene products. Officers accused him of drug trafficking after finding CBD cannabis oil, which is legal and widely used in the UK to ease pain and anxiety.
Billy insists the oil belonged to a friend visiting from England two weeks earlier and denies all charges. Despite this, a Dubai court convicted him of drug trafficking with intent to supply—a crime punishable by death in the UAE.
Forced Confessions and Tough Sentences
“Forced and coerced confessions are commonplace in Dubai,” said Radha Stirling, CEO of campaign group Detained in Dubai, which is representing Billy’s family.
Drug possession can lead to a minimum four-year prison sentence, while trafficking charges risk the death penalty in the region.
Family Pleads for Government Help
Billy’s mother, Breda Hood, says the ordeal has broken the family: “I have hidden myself away, crying and crying when I imagine what our sweet boy is going through. It is the worst stress I’ve ever been through and I feel helpless.”
The Foreign Office is providing consular support as the family urges both UK and UAE governments to step in and help secure Billy’s release.
Billy told his lawyers: “I have always had a zero-tolerance on any drugs or illegal substances. For me to be accused of promoting and selling drugs in a country that has the same beliefs and values as me is very upsetting as it affects my future.”
