East Lothian man in Greek prison after international warrant issued

● Drug paraphernalia in luggage last year led to arrest request from Qatar

An East Lothian man is behind bars in a Greek prison after he was placed on an international most wanted list without knowing it – for being found with drugs paraphernalia in his luggage nearly a year ago.

Conor Howard was detained by authorities in Qatar last October during a stopover on a flight between Australia and the UK after they found a small plastic cannabis grinder.

The 27- year-old project manager from Tranent spent six hours behind bars before returning home and thought no more of his brush with Middle Eastern justice.

But he has arrested in Corfu, after attempting to join his parents on holiday after Greek immigration authorities found an international arrest warrant issued by Qatar.

Engineer Mr Howard now faces being extradited to Qatar to serve a hefty prison sentence.

His parents, Adele, 53, and Robert ,55, who both work with the NHS, battled to get him legal assistance, but have been told he almost certainly faces a prison sentence.

A Go Fund me page set up by his friends to pay for legal assistance has already raised more than £8,000 to help with the legal fight against extradition.

His father said: “We are emotional, stressed, and my anxiety levels are through the roof. Adele had someone phone her this morning, but she could not hold back the tears. We are just having to support each other in this really difficult time. It is crazy the lack of support we have received from the British Embassy in Greece and the language barrier involving lawyers is so difficult. The embassy gave us a list of Qatari lawyers to contact if he is extradited, but none of them have got back to us and we have not been filled with confidence.

“But, that said, so many local people are trying to help us by taking us up and down to the court and jail. The waiting game in between is so painful and the no answers is so difficult. At least in Britain they could scream back at us in the same language.”

He added: “The international arrest warrant was seemingly raised on 8 July this year, so why has it taken this long?

“We need the support now of the British authorities to get Conor home.”

Mr Howard’s case in Qatar was reheard in January and the International Arrest Warrant ford rugtraf fi cking issued. Qatari authorities claim he had Indian hemp oil on his person at the time of the arrest. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Home Office had not responded to requests for comment.