Aussie soccer player whose talent took him to Brazil and Germany is allegedly busted by police with almost half a kilo of cocaine
- Dhari Al Saad, 30, allegedly caught with almost 500g of cocaine by NSW police
- Former professional soccer player told officers ‘he didn’t know’ about the drugs
- Police also found 48 tablets of oxycodone during a subsequent vehicle search
A former NSW state league soccer star who also played professionally in Europe and South America was allegedly busted by police with close to 500 grams of cocaine in his backpack in Sydney’s west.
Dhari Al Saad, 30, arrived in Australia aged eight from Kuwait and saw soccer as his best chance of a dream life.
The one time defender on the books of Brasilis FC in Brazil, Svebolle BI in Denmark and German side SV Hadamar saw his sporting dreams shattered when pulled over by police in a Homebush West street in May last year.
Agreed facts state Al Saad – who also played for the South Coast Wolves in the NSW NPL competition – was in a Mazda allegedly being driven by an associate, Saif Mobarak.
The eagle-eyed officers watched as a third man dressed in an orange Hi-Vis work uniform allegedly approached the vehicle and reached inside a window.
Dhari Al Saad, 30, arrived in Australia aged eight from Kuwait and viewed soccer as his best chance of a dream life (pictured, when on the books of the South Coast Wolves)
His sporting dreams were turned upside down last year when NSW Police allegedly located almost 500g of cocaine in Dhari Al Saad’s backpack
Believing illegal drugs were potentially in the Mazda, the police then stopped Al Saad and Mobarak – who is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Inside Al Saad’s backpack officers allegedly discovered 484g of cocaine, worth almost $150,000.
They also allegedly found 48 tablets of oxycodone in the vehicle.
When asked about cocaine during the search, Al Saad allegedly told the officers: ‘I don’t know anything about that.’
He also allegedly claimed the oxycodone tablets were to treat a sore throat.
Al Saad later admitted he lied to the police about drugs in his backpack during a road stop not long after he was charged with commercial drug supply, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Al Saad pleaded guilty in the NSW District Court and was sentenced to a two-year intensive correction order.
As part of his sentence, Al Saad must not commit any criminal offense and must also complete 200 hours of community work.
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