100kg drug bust: Remand of two Bangladeshi suspects extended again

The remand of the two Bangladeshis arrested by police in a counter-narcotics operation early October which saw the seizure of over 100 kilograms of heroin has been extended once again.

Ten suspects were arrested 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. 

Police only disclosed the identities of eight of the suspects as two were released by the Court; two who they believe to be ringleaders of the drug trafficking operation.

As of December 11 – only five suspects from the eight remanded remained in custody; two Bangladeshis and three Maldivians.

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 December 12.

Therefore, only the Bangladeshi suspects currently remain in custody. They are:

• MD Rafeegul Islam, 35, Bangladesh
• DM Mobin, 24, Bangladesh

Criminal Court, on Tuesday, extended the remand of both the individuals by 30 days – citing that the evidence submitted against them leaves room for reasonable suspicions.

They include a police intelligence report, proof that the two individuals were on the liveboard vessel to which was used to transport the drugs in addition to call logs proving the two to have called other suspects involved. However, Refeegul Islam and Mobin deny any connection to the drugs and have stressed that they traveling on the vessel in the capacity of onboard staff.

Although eight suspects in connection to the case have been released, the Prosecutor General’s Office has pressed charges against all 10 suspects implicated in the case.