Police crackdown on additional Telegram prostitution ring

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has cracked down on an additional prostitution ring through a Telegram channel.

The police institution revealed that the Telegram channel being operated to facilitate and encourage massive crimes, was titled ‘MV Call Girls’.

MPS has since seized the channel and launched further probes in connection with the case.

In an earlier operation launched in connection with complaints of illegal activities on Telegram channels and on March 6, the police had taken over channels titled ‘Jazeera Admin’, ‘Jazeera Girls’, ‘Jazeera Escort Gallery’, ‘Jazeera Scam Alert’ and ‘Jazeera Link News Channel’ as well.

These channels were in operation since April 2023, according to findings.

Arrested in connection with the case were a 28-year-old man, a 39-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man.

Their remand was ordered by the Criminal Court earlier and the remand of one of them was recently extended.

RaajjeMV understands that the 28-year-old man and the 39-year-old woman are a married couple.

The 60-year-old was arrested on 30 March 2024. He was allegedly the taxi driver used to facilitate the prostitution ring being operated on a Telegram channel, under different names of ‘Jazeera’.

MPS revealed that although the accused were not employed, they had made a lot of transactions on their bank accounts.

The police institution further clarified that one of the suspects has a criminal record.

Several people are alleged to be involved in the prostitution ring that was being operated on Telegram channels and more than MVR two million was circulated from each of their accounts, according to police.

Police went on to reveal that women have been active in the country as well as abroad, to run the prostitution ring and one taxi was used to transfer customers.

Further investigations are currently underway in connection with the case as well.