A former US Airman turned social media influencer and his brother have been trapped in Dubai for nearly two months. The brothers are possibly facing “several years” in prison after allegedly being “drugged” and waking up inside a police car.
The Dubai trip turned nightmare
Joseph Lopez and his brother, Joshua Lopez, embarked on their journey from Ohio to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on May 25, aiming to create luxurious content in the City of Gold, as reported by Fox 19 Now.
“I came out here because I wanted to shoot content and Dubai seems like this very glamorous place,” Joseph Lopez explained. However, over a week into their Middle Eastern trip, their adventure took a terrifying turn. On June 2, the brothers were leaving the nightclub Bla Bla when an Uber driver offered to take them to an “after party” at a nearby hotel, according to Detained in Dubai, an organization dedicated to assisting people facing legal issues in the UAE. They agreed and were brought to the VIP section of the hotel party, where they were served food and drinks without requesting them.
Unexpected charges and alleged drugging
About 20 minutes after their arrival, the party ended, and the brothers were presented with a massive bill. Despite suspecting a scam, Joseph Lopez reluctantly paid the bill to avoid causing trouble in a foreign country, according to Detained in Dubai.
As they prepared to leave, a man invited them to a yacht party. Joseph, an Air Force veteran who had left the military nine months ago, initially declined, saying he was “done spending for the night.” However, the man insisted that they were “American guests” and assured them not to worry about expenses. Once on the yacht, the brothers were given drinks by the staff and later charged $2,722 for the refreshments. The situation worsened when Joseph claimed to Fox 19 Now, “This girl brought me a drink, and after she brought me this drink, I don’t remember anything.” He believes they were drugged.
Confrontation and arrest
In the early hours of June 3, the brothers were allegedly confronted by men in black ski masks speaking only Arabic, who attempted to force them into an unmarked vehicle. Believing they were in danger of abduction, the brothers tried to evade capture. “The next thing I remember, I’m in the back of a car and my brother says, ‘Do you want me to get you out of here?’” Joseph recounted to Fox 19 Now. “My arms were all scraped up and stuff and I’m like, ‘Where am I?’ I’m in the back of a car that’s locked.” They soon realized they were in the back of a police car, and the men they feared were actually plain-clothed police officers. The brothers were taken to the Al Barsha police station, about 12 miles from the Burj Khalifa, and held there from the morning of their arrest until June 12, according to Detained in Dubai.
Legal battle and uncertain future in Dubai
The Ohio natives were charged with assaulting an officer, resisting arrest, damaging a patrol vehicle, and alcohol consumption — strict laws in the UAE. Joseph claims they were neither given a breathalyzer test within 24 hours of their arrest nor tested for drugs until four days later, despite being in custody. Though they were eventually granted bail, the brothers were slapped with a travel ban, preventing their return to the US.
“Unfortunately, they’re both now facing potential charges and prosecution that could leave them both in prison for several years,” Detained in Dubai CEO Radha Stirling said. Stirling added, “The legal process in Dubai can be drawn out for months, and often the punishment is the process. We hope authorities in the UAE drop the investigation against Joseph and Joshua and move to investigate those potentially involved in crimes against tourists.”
Ongoing struggle and plea for help
The brothers are currently staying on an Airbnb and awaiting the outcome of their case. “I just want to go home,” Joseph, who has over 300k followers across Instagram and TikTok, told the outlet. “Like I want to go home, and I want to go home soon.” A US State Department spokesperson stated to Fox 19 Now that the department has “no higher priority” than ensuring the “safety and security of US citizens” abroad. “We are aware of the arrest of a US citizen in the United Arab Emirates. We take our role in assisting US citizens abroad seriously and are monitoring the situation.”