UK reality TV star spotted in London 'after arrest in Dubai' for alleged 'drug offence'

UK reality TV star Kaz Crossley has been spotted in London after she was reportedly arrested in Dubai for alleged drug offences last week.

The Love Island finalist was arrested on 13 February when she landed in the UAE to board a connecting flight to Thailand. She was allegedly detained for a video filmed in 2020 in which a woman in Dubai, purportedly Crossley, can be seen snorting white power. 

The 28-year-old was released without charges and later photos online showed her at a gym event in London, according to The Sun. 

Solidarity with @kazcrossley Really hope she gets the right legal support. The woman was doing more than good things for her community back home in Thailand, for the women of Combat Collective, for cancer patients etc. The children she was going to Thailand for will be devastated pic.twitter.com/wa8J9M3m3l

— Shareefa Energy (@ShareefaEnergy) February 17, 2023

"I am safe, thank you for all your kind messages. I want to take some time to reflect before I comment on the past few days," Crossley wrote in a post after her release. 

"Grateful for so much right now. We are so blessed." 

Crossley was locked up with 30 women for days in the UAE, reported The Sun. 

It is alleged that the reality star was denied a lawyer or a proper translator. 

However, after "fully cooperating" with Dubai authorities in their investigation into other drug offenders she was released without charge, UK media reported.

The UAE imposes harsh punishments on drug and alcohol offenders, with foreign expats facing a maximum of three months in jail and a fine of up to 20,000 dirham ($5,445) for first-time offences. 

Drug penalties have been penalties relaxed for travellers, a number of foreigners remain detained in a system condemned by Human Rights Watch for grossly unfair trials and inadequate access to legal recourse. 

Detained in Dubai CEO Radha Stirling said Crossley’s case "highlights not only the Emirates’ zero-tolerance policy towards narcotics but more so the expansive license granted to law enforcement in the UAE to arrest and prosecute individuals without substantial evidence."