Indian couple caught smuggling heroin jailed for 15 days

The Indian couple caught attempting to smuggle heroin into Maldives has been jailed for 15 days.

Maldives Customs Service seized narcotics from the luggage of the two Indian passengers on October 15.

Taking to social media platform ‘X’ on Saturday, customs revealed that the drugs were seized during an inspection of the luggage of the two passengers hailing from India, who arrived in the Maldives from Malaysia via air.

The inspection stemmed from suspicions that they were attempting to smuggle narcotics.

During the inspection, suspicious substances were found in the luggage of both passengers. According to customs, initial testing yielded positive results for heroin, a type of narcotic. Customs further revealed that the total weight of the substances, including packaging, was 2.05 kilograms, with an estimated street value of MVR 2,050,000.

Customs highlighted that the seized narcotics and the two passengers have since been handed over to the Maldives Police Service (MPS) for further investigation.

Upon being presented before the Criminal Court on October 16 for a remand hearing, the two suspects were remanded for three days.

The court order noted that a short period was given due to the unavailability of an interpreter.

The suspects jailed in connection with the case have been identified as Mohamed Shoaib, 41 and Aisha, 38.

The decision to remand them for 15 days was reached in the presence of an interpreter.

Based on the behavior of the suspects, a search was conducted and a concealment was found at the bottom of the luggage registered under Aisha's name, which was suspected to be drugs, leading to a controlled delivery operation.

A rubber package weighing 2.05 kg was found inside the luggage. Both individuals are now suspected of committing serious criminal offenses as defined in Article 22 of the Criminal Procedure Act.

The couple claimed that it was something entrusted to them by someone else, that it wasn't there when they checked their luggage, and that they were unaware of anything being concealed in it.

Further, they have requested a state attorney, filled out the form and the investigating officer has stated that the form would be submitted to the Attorney General's Office.

Once an attorney is appointed, they are to be presented before a judge within the remand period.

Further investigations are currently underway in connection with the case.

Customs frequently intercepts narcotics being smuggled into the Maldives by air.

Further, individuals trying to transit through the Maldives to smuggle narcotics to other countries have been apprehended with drugs at Velana International Airport (VIA).

Earlier this month, a 33-year-old woman from Brazil was caught with narcotics worth MVR six million in her luggage, upon arrival.