5.9kg drug case: one released, remand extended for other suspects

Ahmed Naseer, 45 has been released from police custody, while Ali Aiham, 18 and Rohaman's remand has been extended in connection with the case of suspected drug trafficking to the Maldives.

The three men were arrested on suspicion of importing drugs into the Maldives.

Maldives Police Service (MPS) identified the suspects as Ahmed Naseer, 45 and native to Dhidhdhoo island of Haa Alif atoll, Ali Aiham, 18 and native to Kanduhulhudhoo island of Gaaf Alif atoll and Rohaman, 29, a Bangladeshi citizen.

Naseer was arrested on the night of October 31 at Velana International Airport (VIA) based on information shared by the Maldives Customs Service.

The other two suspects were arrested in the capital Malé City during a controlled delivery operation conducted jointly by the police Counter Narcotics Intelligence and Drug Enforcement Department (DED).

While inspecting an air freight shipment brought to the Maldives from Bangkok on October 31, customs officials carried out further inspections following suspicions that drugs were concealed in the shipment.

Upon further inspection, customs officials uncovered suspected narcotics.

In the initial analysis, two different types of drugs, namely Cathinone in 416 grams and 5,520 grams of Cannabis were found.

The confiscated narcotics carried a street value of MVR 3,348,000.

Upon being presented to the Criminal Court for their remand hearing in connection with the drug bust, Naseer was initially remanded for five days, Aiham was remanded for 10 days and the Bangladeshi national was given seven days behind bars.

On the sixth day, upon being presented to the court after Naseer’s initial remand period expired, the court released him on conditional bail.

He was released from custody after cooperating with the police and because he had provided complete documentation for the imported items. It was revealed that he works as an agent in the clearing business for a company called PA Maldives.

The release order states that the items belonged to a person named Misbah.

The police institution has stated that the packages imported into the Maldives were brought in under the name of a person called Affan, who is Naseer's brother-in-law, through his company.

The order states that based on the arguments presented by both parties and the submitted documents, apart from Naseer's inspection of the package, there is no additional evidence supporting the alleged crime or indicating that Naseer had knowledge of the presence of drugs in it.

Naseer does not have a criminal record.

Further, the remand period for Rohaman was extended for a second time, for 30 days.

Aiham’s remand was extended for a further 15 days.