Ohio brothers Joseph and Joshua arrive safely home after Dubai ordeal. Radha Stirling thanks JD Vance for his support.
“I am pleased to announce veteran Joseph Lopez and his brother, Joshua have arrived safely in Ohio after a short Dubai vacation turned into a terrible nightmare”, announced Radha Stirling, Crisis Manager and CEO of Detained in Dubai who represented the family.
“Joseph and Joshua Lopez were sentenced to jail after being lured and drugged at a Dubai yacht party. Their ordeal should serve as a warning to tourists who are under the mistaken belief that the UAE is completely safe.
“We are told repeatedly that Dubai is crime free, that you can leave your mobile phone on the bar bench and it won’t be stolen, but what of more serious but undisclosed crime? Apprentice star Selina Waterman-Smith was abducted and gang raped by three men. Joseph and Joshua were targeted, lured and drugged while trying to enjoy a harmless vacation. This kind of crime is only spoken about when raised by victims. It won’t be in the Dubai annual crime statistics.
“The brothers were sentenced to prison time consuming alcohol (1 drink) onboard the yacht and for the state they were in following the knock out drugs given to them immediately upon boarding the yacht. It is unlikely any of the people involved in this incident will be charged and highly likely they will continue targeting tourists.
“I thank Senator JD Vance who was highly supportive of his constituents and keen to get them home as fast as possible. With the combined support of Senator Vance and a strong campaign, the Lopez brothers managed to escape the prison sentence they’d been served. Without such an effective campaign, they would likely have been locked up for a minimum of 6 months which could have expanded to 2 years or more.
“I am truly happy to see these wonderful men home and safe with their families. It’s been a privilege to help them achieve their well deserved freedom.”
