Indian couple arrested from airport with over MVR 2 million in heroin

An Indian couple were detained from the Maldives national airport last week after authorities found 2.05 kilos of heroin in their luggage worth over MVR 2 million.

According to Maldives Customs Service, the two Indian nationals – identified as a 41-year-old male and a 38-year-old female – flew to Male’ from Malaysia on Tuesday, October 15.

Airport officials suspected they might be carrying drugs inside their luggage and conducted a search.

The authorities found drugs in both their luggage. The drugs found weighed 2.05 kilos and tested positive for heroin.

The street value of the drugs is estimated to be MVR 2,050,000.

Customs said that the two individuals detained in the case, along with the confiscated drugs have been handed over to the police for criminal investigation.

They were presented before the Criminal Court for their remand hearing on Wednesday, October 16.

Court documents identify the individuals as Mohamed Shoib and Aisha - a married couple.

They were remanded in custody of the police for three days. In the court order, the judge said that they were remanded for such a short period of time because an official translator had yet to be appointed for them.

The proceedings during the remand hearing were translated to them by the police investigator who said he knows Hindi.