Love Island star, Kaz Crossley, has been jailed in Dubai on suspicion of drug offences

Love Island star Kaz Crossley has been jailed in Dubai on suspicion of drug offences.

The fashion and beauty influencer was detained at Abu Dhabi airport in transit for a flight to Thailand.

Love Island finalist Kaz Crossley has been arrested in the United Arab Emirates on suspicion of drug offences and held in a Dubai prison, likely for at least three months, it emerged today.  

The British reality star, 27, was detained at Abu Dhabi airport while transferring to a flight to Thailand where she says she was going to carry out voluntary work. Miss Crossley was arrested on Monday and an insider claimed ‘that her name obviously raised a red flag’ when her passport was checked in the UAE’s capital. 

She has since been moved to a Dubai prison, where she was reportedly refused a phone call to her family, but was permitted to send a single email.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: ‘We are in contact with the local authorities following the arrest of a British national in the United Arab Emirates.’ 

Dubai has recently liberalised its drugs laws with first-time offenders given a minimum of three months in prison and a fine of between £4,559 and £22,799. Previously, offenders would have faced a minimum of four years in prison for any drug use. 

After serving jail time, suspects are then deported to their home state – in Miss Crossley’s case to the UK – and banned from returning to the UAE. Sentences for drug-trafficking can include the death penalty.

The authorities in Dubai have not confirmed the reason for Miss Crossley’s arrest, but around two years ago the influencer, wearing an orange mini dress, was seen holding a nostril as she snorted white powder during a party in the city.

It is likely that her name was flagged up when she tried to leave for Thailand as UAE authorities are still probing the old video.

Miss Crossley, whose mother is Thai, posted her last Instagram post five days ago when she took a short trip to Dublin.

A source told The Sun: ‘She was looking forward to getting back to Thailand where she has been doing voluntary work and all of a sudden she is languishing in a Dubai jail.

‘Everyone knows how strict they are about drugs over there. She must be terrified. She had only stopped off in Abu Dhabi to catch a connecting flight but her name has obviously raised a red flag.

‘She was allowed to send just one email and wasn’t even allowed to make a phone call.’

Miss Crossley’s representatives have been contacted by MailOnline for comment. In Dubai possession of drugs, even residual amounts, are severe and punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment as the UAE has a zero-tolerance for drugs-related offences.

“She was looking forward to getting back to Thailand where she has been doing voluntary work and all of a sudden she is languishing in a Dubai jail,” a source told The Sun.

“Everyone knows how strict they are about drugs over there. She must be terrified. She had only stopped off in Abu Dhabi to catch a connecting flight but her name has obviously raised a red flag.

The insider added that Kaz was allowed to send just one email but wasn’t allowed to make a phone call to her family.

“She messaged one particular friend whose email she could remember and asked her to inform her family that she was OK but had been arrested for drug offences. The arrest wasn’t because of anything she had on her. As far as we know it is all down to that video.”

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office told the publication: “We are in contact with the local authorities following the arrest of a British national in the United Arab Emirates.”