Six foreigners in 24 kg drug smuggling case released

The six Pakistani men, arrested from an Iranian vessel for trying to smuggle 24 kilograms of heroin to the Maldives in March, have been released by the authorities.

The men were released on 2 April, police media official said, but did not state a reason for the release.

The remaining suspects, three Bangladeshis and four locals, including a Maldivian policeman, still remain under police custody. The court granted an extra 15 days for their detention on Saturday.

In a major sting operation, Police arrested fourteen foreigners, consisting of three Bangladeshis and eleven Pakistanis, along with four Maldivians, for smuggling 24 kilograms of heroin into the country on 10 and 11 March. The Iranian vessel and its crew were brought under custody after the exchange of drugs took place about 30 nautical miles off Alifu Alifu Mathiveri, to the west of the capital Male’.

Police earlier said that 24 kgs of heroin would have an estimated street value of MVR 36 million in the Maldives, and if sold with added powder, the street value could reach a staggering MVR 100 million.