100kg drug bust: Locals released, expats’ remand extended

The Maldivian suspects arrested by police in a counter-narcotics operation early October which saw the seizure of over 100 kilograms of heroin have been released from custody, while the remand of the two foreign nationals arrested in the same case have been extended.

Police arrested 10 suspects on October 13, after a 24-hour counter-drug trafficking operation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Department (DED), Drug Intelligence, Marine Police, and Forensics Department.  

The drugs were found hidden in Bodukaashihura, an uninhabited island located in ADh. Atoll.

The court had ordered for eight of the suspects to be remanded in police custody, and had released the other two suspects – identified by police as the ringleaders. Three more of the suspects were released in October, leaving five suspects in custody – three Maldivians and two Bangladeshi nationals.

They are:

• Juman Musthafa, 19, Beach Heaven, N. Velidhoo
• Mohamed Ahmed, 34, Janavareemaage, L. Kalaidhoo
• Mohamed Hussain, 61, Polaris, Dh. Bandidhoo
• MD Rafeegul Islam, 35, Bangladesh
• DM Mobin, 24, Bangladesh

The three Maldivian suspects were suspected by police of transporting the drugs to Bodukaashihura on a liveaboard vessel.

However, the Criminal Court denied the request for an extension to their remand period and ordered their release on Saturday.

Police have 60 days to investigate drug trafficking cases. They completed the investigation and submitted the case to the Prosecutor General’s Office for charges on Saturday.

However, the court said there wasn’t sufficient evidence to link the three suspects to the drugs.

The court said that while the suspects don’t deny the drugs were found on the island, the police failed to submit sufficient evidence to establish the suspects transported the drugs to the island.

The court said that while two other people on the vessel gave statements against the suspects, the statements did not establish the drugs were transported to the island on the vessel.

The police submitted a call chart which proved the three suspects communicated the other suspects involved in the case, but it does not show what they talked about, said the court.

While the court has now released all six Maldivians arrested in the case, it extended the remand period of the two Bangladeshis by 10 days, citing sufficient evidence, including a police intel report, their presence of the vessel which went to pick up the drugs, and a call chart showing they communicated with the other suspects involved.

Police had searched multiple uninhabited islands, locations in Male’ City and Hulhumale’, and a liveaboard vessel and a speedboat in the operation.