'College student' released from MDP protest arrested again with drugs

Mohamed Khalaf Ibrahim, who was released after being arrested at last week’s Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) protest in Male' City, has now been arrested again, this time in connection with a drug bust.

Khalaf, of Jawaahirumaage, N. Velidhoo, was one of seven individuals detained during the MDP’s 'Lootuvaifi' rally. He was the only one released after the remand hearing, having told the court that he was caught in the crowd while returning home from college. The court ruled that there was no need to keep him in custody at the time.

However, on Tuesday evening, Khalaf was arrested again along with three others after police discovered a large quantity of drugs and drug packaging materials in an apartment. The apartment, according to the arrest report, was not furnished like a typical residence and appeared to be used for drug storage and processing.

The individuals arrested and remanded in custody for 15 days are:

• Mohamed Khalaf Ibrahim - Jawaahirumaage, N. Velidhoo  
• Hassan Naeem - Daisymaage, N. Velidhoo  
• Ahmed Maishan Naseem - Radium Villa, N. Velidhoo  
• Ibrahim Riyaz - Lillyge, N. Kudafari

Police reports indicate that the apartment was set up as a drug processing site, with significant quantities of narcotics and packaging materials recovered during the raid.