Drum n' bass DJ Grooverider could face up to four years behind bars after he was caught at a Dubai airport with an alleged stash of cannabis and pornography in his luggage.

The DJ, who has had a long-standing Radio 1 show alongside music partner Fabio, was meant to be performing in the UAE city on November 23. However, he was pulled over by customs at the Gulf Emirates Airport and detained after they allegedly discovered the said items.

Under very strict United Arab Emirates laws, pornography and cannabis are forbidden and come with tough sentences. For example, the death sentence can be passed on drug traffickers.

Ram Nath, the promoter behind the show at The Lodge where Grooverider - real name Raymond Bingham - was meant to be playing, said that he sent through clear instructions to the DJ on what he couldn't bring into the country.

He said: "I sent a fax to him explaining all of our laws, including what he could and could not bring into the country. Unfortunately, he was booked by police before he got out of the airport."

To add insult to Grooverider's plight, Nath said he is seeking a refund from the DJ's management company over lost money.