Suspects linked to 215kg drug bust jailed pending outcome of trial

The Criminal Court has ruled remand the two suspects arrested in connection to the 215-kilogram drug bust, pending the outcome of their trial.

Arrested in connection to the drug bust which saw police officers seize 215-kilograms of heroin are, Ali Shakir, 42 as well as Nimal Abdul Haris, 33, both native to Maduvvari island in Raa atoll. The two suspects were remanded by 15 days on October 17.

They were presented for their remand hearing on Saturday.

During the first remand hearing, Shakir had accused police officers of assaulting him. With this the court ordered for him to be consulted with a doctor and provided proper treatment. However, during Saturday’s hearing it was revealed that Shakir was not taken to a doctor since he had “not requested” for it. Shakir responded by saying that the doctor present at the Dhoonidhoo Custodial Jail where is being remanded, gives him one pill a day. As such, the suspect revealed that he wishes to be provided adequate treatment.

With this, the court ordered for him to be consulted with a doctor and present the relevant documents within seven days.

The counter-narcotics operation was launched on October 15 following a tip-off that a hefty amount of drugs were being smuggled into the Maldives via sea-route. The operation was carried out in joint collaboration by the MPS Drug Enforcement Department, Drug Intelligence Unit, Marine Police, officers stationed in Raa atoll and forensics.

In the operation which was part of efforts by the police institution to bring an end to drug smuggling and trafficking nationwide, officers searched uninhabited islands as well as a speedboat. The hefty amount of narcotics were found hidden in an uninhabited island of Raa atoll.

Commissioner of Police, Mohamed Hameed has confirmed that the operation joined by forensics, drug enforcement, marine police and Raa atoll officers on October 13, saw 215-kilograms of drugs seized.