Four individuals have been found guilty and sentenced in connection with a drug-related case.

The four individuals sentenced by the Criminal Court are Hassan Looth, 45 and native to Thinadhoo island of Gaaf Dhaal atoll, Hassan Rasheed, 36, Hulhumalé Flat 01-G-45, Ismail Shareef, 43 and native to Thimarafushi island of Thaa atoll and Shaniya Ibrahim, 35 and native to Malé City.

The court sentenced them to 25 years behind bars, on October 16.

In addition to the prison sentence, the four individuals were also slapped with fines.

Looth was fined MVR two million, Rasheed MVR one million and both Shareef and Shaniya were fined MVR 500,000 each.

The suspects were arrested on 12 January 2021, during an operation conducted based on intelligence received by the Maldives Police Service (MPS) regarding the import, use, possession, and trafficking of drugs in the Maldives.

Four locations in the congested capital associated with the suspects were searched in connection with the case.

Raids were carried out in Nee of Galolhu-ward, Honeysuckle in Mahchangoalhi ward, Burehimaage in Maafannu district and Reyali Guesthouse in Maafannu district.

As part of the raids, 54 grams of diamorphine and 266 grams of cannabis were discovered.

In addition to this, cash amounting to MVR 1,542,675 was uncovered.

The court ruling also dubbed the confiscated cash as proceeds of crime and ordered it to be confiscated by the state.

The police institution wrapped up the investigation in connection with the case and forwarded findings to the Prosecutor General’s Office (PG Office) for prosecution on 10 March 2021.