Life sentence for traveler carrying drug-stuffed cigarette pack

A man who attempted to board a boat while carrying a cigarette pack containing drugs has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Ahmed Sathiu of S. Maradhoo was convicted of trafficking cannabis by the Criminal Court on Wednesday.

According to the prosecution, the Police Intelligence department received a tip that Sathiu had been attempting to leave on a boat docked at the North Harbor carrying drugs on March 24, 2019.

The police searched a bag he was carrying on his shoulder, inside which they found a cigarette pack with an emptied film cannister containing 21.3660 grams of cannabis.

Sathiu had denied the charge against him.

However, Chief Judge Adam Mohamed found him guilty beyond reasonable grounds based on evidence submitted by the prosecution.

He was sentenced to a life term of 25 years and fined by MVR 100,000 – which he is required to settle within 12 months.

Sathiu has already spent one year in detention in connection to the case, and therefore has 23 years and 10 months left to serve.