19yo youth remanded for using, possessing, trafficking drugs

A 19-year-old youth has been arrested and remanded in a drug peddling case.

Maldives Police Service (MPS) sought his remand at the Criminal Court.

The 19-year-old Maldivian man hails from Maakurathu island of Raa atoll.

The Criminal Court remanded him for a period of 15 days, at a custodial prison.

The reason given for his remand order, was that sufficient evidence was presented to prove that he had committed the alleged crime. The evidence presented includes statements from police officers who went to the scene, urine analysis reports, photo reports, drug analysis reports, scene of crime officers' reports, intelligence reports as well as his bank statement.

The court cited Article 49 of the Constitution and Articles 59 and 60 (g) of the Criminal Procedure Act as the reason for detaining him, stating that releasing him could pose a threat to public safety.

The police institution revealed that narcotics were found at the location where he was arrested.

MPS said that drugs exceeding the trafficking threshold were discovered. In addition to this, the police institution reported that his urine sample tested positive for drugs.

The police institution went on to reveal that his bank statement showed financial transactions with a person who is deemed to be on the forefront of this case.

The police also stated that the Prosecutor General's Office (PG Office) has extended the investigation period to 15 days.