Soldiers join in prison raid to seize contraband

Soldiers have joined in an operation launched by the authorities to seize contraband smuggled into the Maafushi Prison.

In a statement on Monday, the Home Ministry said that the ongoing raid is a joint operation by the ministry, Maldives Correctional Service, the police, and Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF).

 The operation comes after an investigation by the police uncovered a large-scale smuggling network at the Maafushi Prison, involving officers from Correctional Service.

The ministry said that Home Minister Ali Ihusan, Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau, and Commissioner of Prisons Hassan Zareer visited the Maafushi Prison on Monday, to observe the raid.

It has not said whether any contraband was seized in the operation.

ޤަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް މާފުށި ޖަލަށް ވައްދާފައިވާ މަނާ ތަކެތި އަތުލައިގަތުމަށް @CorrectionsMv @PoliceMv އަދި @MNDF_Official އާއި ގުޅިގެން، ކުރިއަށް ގެންދާ އޮޕަރޭޝަންގެ ކަންކަން ބާއްލަވާ ލެއްވުމަށް މިނިސްޓަރ ޢަލީ އިޙްސާން @min_mohst މިއަދު ހެނދުނު މާފުށި ޖަލަށް ޒިޔާރަތްކުރަައްވައިފި.… pic.twitter.com/OhTti1lNOh

— Ministry of Homeland Security & Technology, MV (@HomeMinistrymv) July 1, 2024

A police investigation found at least 18 officers of the Correctional Service smuggled drugs, phones and other contraband into the prison.

The police traced MVR 73 million which went into the bank accounts of the officers, which they received in exchange for smuggling the contraband.

13 officers have been arrested so far.

In a statement on Saturday, the police said that 11 of them had been remanded in jail pending the outcome of their trial, while the other two officers were remanded in police custody for five days.

The 13 officers arrested include nine arrested from K. Maafushi, two from K. Kaashidhoo, and one each from HA. Utheem and Male’ City.

The police have not disclosed any details regarding the suspects, but said the case was under investigation.

The police announced the investigation into the prison smuggling racket in a press briefing on Thursday night.

The agency said that 18 officers were found to have been involved, six of whom had since left the Correctional Service, while the others remained employed with the agency.

The police said that their bank accounts held millions, despite not being involved in any legitimate business. Some of the officers had up to MVR 24 million in their accounts.

According to the police, bank transfers to their accounts were traced back to inmates, as well as known criminals based in Male’.

Ihusan said that it was “imperative” that the police investigate why the officers received such huge sums of money.