Air Force vet and current Mr Louisiana faces jail in Dubai as he claims he was drugged on a night out and arrested by plain clothes cops during two week holiday

An Air Force veteran and current Louisiana title holder is facing jail time in Dubai after claiming he was drugged on a night out before being arrested by plainclothes police officers while on holiday.

Joseph Lopez, who was also in contention for the prestigious Mr USA title, may now be banned from competing following his arrest.

The B-52 mechanic and honor guard left the military nine months ago and began advocating for mental health on social media, with fans saying he “tries to inspire people and make them laugh and relate.”

Lopez left for a two-week vacation to Dubai before beginning preparations for the beauty pageant.

But on June 2, he and his brother Joshua visited a popular club in Dubai called Bla Bla, but the evening ended in unexpected horror.

Lopez (left) is pictured with his brother Joshua (right) before the pair were arrested on June 3 by plainclothes officers wearing “black ski masks.”

An Uber reportedly approached the brothers while they were standing outside the club and suggested the pair attend an after-party at a nearby hotel.

Lopez and Joshua accepted the offer and were taken straight to the VIP section, where they were presented with trays of food, bubbly and drinks that the brothers had not requested.

About twenty minutes later, as the venue was closing, Lopez reportedly received a bill that he paid in full, despite feeling like he had been ripped off.

“Uber drivers and other promoters are paid by some venues to bring in tourists,” said Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai.

‘In this case it appears they went a step further by pushing food and drinks on them while giving the impression that they were free’.

Despite Lopez’s suspicions rising after his large, unexpected bill, he explained how he was then invited onto a yacht by a partygoer before explaining that he was “finished staying overnight.”

But the unnamed man persisted, telling Lopez and Joshua that they would be his “American guests.”

Finally, the brother agreed and once they boarded the luxury ship, they were given a drink for which the staff later tried to charge them more than $2,700, but Lopez refused several times.

The social media influencer then claimed that he and his brother started to feel strange before they were allegedly confronted by a group of Arabic-speaking men wearing black balaclavas.

They tried to throw the brothers in the back of a car and Lopez admitted he thought they were being kidnapped.

“They didn’t realize the men were plainclothes police officers,” Stirling explains.

‘Police officers in plainclothes often approach tourists with force, grab them and intimidate them without identifying themselves.

“Of course the tourist is going to defend themselves against what they perceive as an assault or worse. Ultimately, they are wrongly accused of resisting arrest or assaulting a police officer.”

The social media influencer left the military nine months ago and became an advocate for mental health. Pictured: Lopez pictured in Dubai in an Instagram post uploaded on May 27

The terrified brothers were taken to Al Barsha where they were held overnight until June 12.

They told officers upon arrival that they had been drugged, but police refused to test them.

The pair were reportedly not subjected to a breath test for at least 24 hours, but several days later authorities took a urine sample – once any drug residue had left their bodies.

“Normally, police take samples immediately upon arrival to secure evidence against the arrestee,” Stirling said.

“It is highly unusual and suspicious to wait several days for a test, especially if they have been told about the concerns.”

According to Lopez, fellow cellmates told the brothers that it is common in Dubai for visitors to be deliberately drugged and taken advantage of.

Joseph and Joshua were granted bail and a travel ban on June 12.

They are not allowed to leave the country – despite the couple not having been formally charged with any crimes.

The decision now rests with the prosecutor, but he reportedly considered charging the brothers with alcohol, resisting arrest and causing damage to the patrol vehicle before realizing the masked men were police.

“The legal process in Dubai can take months and often the punishment is the process itself,” Stirling said.

“We hope that UAE authorities will drop the investigation against Joseph and Joshua and investigate those who may be involved in crimes against tourists.”

Joseph hopes he can leave the country, continue his work in mental health and run for Mr USA.

If found guilty, he faces years in prison in Dubai’s notorious prisons, where scores of foreigners have been beaten, tortured and even murdered.