Male’, Maldives – Maldives Police Service has revealed that seven individuals have been arrested with regards to the most recent drug raid carried out in Hulhumale’ which saw roughly about 130 kilograms of drugs being seized.
As per the details revealed, the seven who were arrested in connection to the crime include a minor and six individuals between the ages of 25 and 48, all of whom are local men.
So far more than 130 kilograms of drugs have been seized from the sea vessel docked at the Hulhumale’ harbour, which was searched based on information received by the Intelligence department of Maldives Police Service regarding a large amount of drugs being trafficked into the country via sea channels, by Maldivians in alliance with foreign trafficking chains.
Police revealed that in addition to the boat, three apartments in Hulhumale’ and two houses in Male’ were searched, from which the drugs, methamphetamine and heroin were found.
Police also revealed the identities of the two main drug lords involved in the operation, being Shaheeb Ibrahim from GA. Villingili (42y) and Ahmed Moosa from HA. Hoarafushi (48y). It also revealed that out of the pair, Shaheeb Ibrahim has been linked to a previous drug bust carried out in 2019, involving an Iranian boat which was trafficking drugs in to the Maldives.
Among those who were arrested, the court ordered Shaheeb to be held in remand for a period of 15 days along with four others involved in the crime, while Ahmed Moosa was ordered to be held in remand for 5 days. The Juvenile Court of Maldives ordered the minor to be held in remand for a period of 10 days, as the case is to be further investigated by Maldives Police Service.
As of recent, Maldives Police Service has been seen proactively seizing the trafficking of illegal substances including drug and alcohol across the country. This includes the most recent drug raid carried out in Addu City, where 98.6 kilograms of drugs were seized and 14 arrested.
During an event carried out to dispose of more than 300 kilograms of drugs, Home Minister Imran Abdulla stated that Maldives is trying to become a drug-free based society, and that to achieve this goal, Maldives Police Service would be carrying out activities to disrupt the drug trade of the Maldives. Minister Imran also stated in a tweet he sent out, that no protection will be given to the drug dealers from the government.
