A man who allegedly tried to smuggle drugs with a street value of $190,000 into Bahrain inside date biscuits has been remanded in custody for another 15 days.

The 25-year-old Saudi banker and his Saudi girlfriend, 24, were arrested at Bahrain International Airport after flying in from Lebanon on June 7, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Customs officers searched the woman's luggage after an X-ray revealed eight boxes of traditional Arabic biscuits called Ma'amoul inside.

On closer inspection they discovered 40,669 Captagon tablets stuffed inside the biscuits, according to court files.

The 25-year-old initially told police he was transporting the drugs for his cousin in return for SR30,000 (BD3,000/$7,953).

However, he denied the charges when questioned at the Public Prosecution and by a remand judge - claiming he only confessed so that his girlfriend was released from custody.

Both he and the woman have been charged with smuggling and possessing drugs, but she was released from custody on guarantee of her place of residence.

However, the remand judge refused to release the banker from custody while investigations continue.

His lawyer Ghaleb Al Shaer had asked for a travel ban to prevent him leaving Bahrain and said his parents were prepared to pay for an apartment for him, but the request was denied. - TradeArabia News Service