Drug network leader Shafaz sentenced to 18 years in prison

Criminal Court has today levied long prison sentences upon Ibrahim Shafaz Abdul Razzaq (Safa) and five of his partners, a group known to be leaders in a large drug trafficking ring that has been operating in the Maldives since 2006.

Criminal Court today sentenced the ringleader Ibrahim Shafaz to 18 years in prison and pay MVR 75,000 in fines, the complete sum of which has to be paid within a one-month period.

The sentence states that, based on phone call records and other supporting evidence, it was proven that Shafaz, in collaboration with an individual in Sri Lanka, had headed an operation to import drugs to Maldives between years 2006 and 2011.

Three of his partners, Ismail Shaheem, Mohamed Meead and Anas Anees have been sentenced to 10 years in prison for their arrest from H. Fashange, with drugs in their possession, on the night of 23 June 2011. Mohamed Meead was sentenced in absentia.

Two other individuals, Hussain Athif and Abdul Sattar Ali were also convicted today of being part of drug acquisition and distribution network and have been sentenced to 18 years in prison and a fine of MVR 75,000.

Hussain Atheek, who was suspected of aiding the network to transfer money through Western Union, was acquitted of the charges today after the court could not find enough evidence for a conviction.

Through a two-year operation dubbed “Operation Challenge” which commenced in 2009, police arrested numerous of individuals suspected of being part of the drug network.