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IN January 2024, the term ‘Fredo in Dubai’ began trending across various social media platforms.
The online circulation of the phrase comes months after The Sun exclusively revealed that the British rapper had been arrested in Dubai in 2023, after allegedly being caught with cannabis.
Marvin Bailey, also known as Fredo, is a British rapper[/caption]
Why is ‘Fredo in Dubai’ trending?
In January 2024, fans of the rapper Fredo rushed to social media after the phrase ‘Fredo in Dubai’ sparked shock online.
The trending term was a result of various unconfirmed news reports and Reddit forums alleging that Fredo, whose real name is Marvin Bailey, had been sentenced to five years in a Dubai jail for drug possession.
However, the suggestions of the sentencing and any conviction have not been confirmed.
Is Fredo still in Dubai?
Following his arrest, it was reported that the rapper is believed to have been held in the Dubai jail since September.
As of January 2024, there appears to be no more information publicly released regarding Bailey’s whereabouts.
Why was Fredo arrested?
As mentioned above, Bailey, who released No1 hit Toxic Trait alongside music star Stormzy, was arrested after allegedly being caught in possession of cannabis.
The sentence for this crime in Dubai – which has a strict zero tolerance for drugs-related offences – can be up to several years
Radha Stirling, CEO of advocacy organisation Detained In Dubai, told The Sun: “The most likely outcome for possession of cannabis would be one to two years in prison, it could be up to three years”.
However, she added that if prosecutors charge him with intent to sell, or trafficking, the sentence could escalate to five years – or even more.
This is because the crime would then be federal, and Bailey would face prosecution in Abu Dhabi.
Has Fredo been to prison in the UK?
Prior to being detained in Dubai, the rapper was arrested in June 2023 on an airport runway – just hours before the release of Toxic Trait, his song with Stormzy.
Bailey had been returning from a holiday in Barbados when he was detained at Heathrow airport.
Dramatic video filmed from a British Airways jet showed four officers handcuffing him at 7am.
Bailey was taken into custody but later released without charge.
As well as this, in April, the “Toxic Trait” rapper was slammed with a three-year road ban for drug-driving.
He was over the legal cannabis limit in a £55,000 Range Rover Velar in Edmonton, North London.
As well as the above arrests, according to reports, the rapper Marvin Bailey has also previously spent time behind bars in UK prisons.
”He was sent to prison on remand for a stabbing charge that was dropped before it reached trial. A second prison stint came in 2017, for a shooting charge that was also later dropped,” the Evening Standard reports.
