Two Pakistanis arrested over 24 kg drug case, deported

Authorities have deported the two Pakistani crew members of the Iranian vessel that attempted to smuggle 24 kilograms of heroin to the Maldives in March this year.

Police said in a statement today that the two Pakistani nationals were deported due to a lack of evidence to press charges. Criminal Court ordered Maldives Police Service to deport two Pakistanis on 1 July.

Maldives police have said that the 24 kg of drugs seized from the Iranian vessel is the largest amount of drugs confiscated in a police operation conducted in the Maldives.

Eleven Pakistanis were initially taken into custody aboard the Iranian vessel Horumozu, and nine were released earlier.

A total of eighteen people were taken into custody in relation to this case, consisting of four Maldivians, three Bangladeshis, in addition to the eleven Pakistanis.

Two Bangladeshis were released by the Criminal Court on 24 June. A single Bangladeshi man remains in custody along with four Maldivians, two of whom were transferred to house arrest. The group of four locals also includes a police officer.

The Iranian vessel and its crew were taken into 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 kilograms of heroin would have an estimated street value of MVR 36 million in the Maldives, and if sold with added powder, its street value could reach a staggering MVR 100 million.