Police confirms Misbah's return to Maldives, to be handed over to Corrections' custody

Maldives Police Service has confirmed that Misbah Mohamed, Morning Sun, HDh. Nolhivaranfaru, who was alleged to have been being held as human collateral by a Pakistani drug trafficking ring has returned to Maldives, today.

Police have also confirmed that he has been arrested following his return. They further detailed that they are currently handling the administrative procedure pertaining to the transfer of his custody to Maldives Correctional Service – for him to serve a sentence handed down by the Court.

It was also noted by the Police that they were further probing into how Misbah had managed to travel to Pakistan. 

Misbah Mohamed, 25, Morning Sun, HDh. Nolhivaranfaru, was reported missing to the police by his family in April – whereas the Police had asked for public assistance in locating Misbah on May 14. Later it was announced that Immigration records show he boarded a flight to Dubai on November 19, 2020.

However, on June 2, the Police clarified that Misbah was found to have actually left Maldives on November 11, 2020 at 10:13 pm and that they were able to trace him taking a plane to Dubai, and then to Pakistan – where he was being held as human collateral by a drug trafficking ring.

In June, a video of Misbah went viral on social media – where he had claimed that the statements made by the Police were false and that he had no connections to a drug trafficking ring.  At the time the video went viral, Misbah was alleged to have been in Pakistan.

Information publicized by the Police prior to this states that Misbah had left for Dubai with Irufan Thagiyyu, Dheyliyaage, S. Hulhudhoo – who ran large-scale drug smuggling and distribution networks in Maldives.

Irufan was arrested a month later, in connection to over 72 kilos of heroin smuggled to Maldives on the fishing boat ‘Masjaree-2’ on December 8, 2020. Prosecutor General’s Office filed charges against 10 suspects in connection to the case.

Police said Misbah and Irufan went to Velana International Airport on Irufan’s car ‘AB1B P1939’ – from which the drugs were found.

Irufan returned to Maldives on an Emirates flight on November 11, 11 days after they left. Misbah did not return with him and the investigation showed that he had traveled from Dubai to Pakistan. Hence, they believed that Misbah went to Pakistan to remain as a "guarantor" under the authority of an international drug trafficking network that supplied drugs to Irufan until the payment for the drug shipment smuggled to Maldives was settled.