Elderly man sentenced to 25 years in prison for smuggling drugs concealed in vases
During the initial stages of the investigation, Sadiq provided three conflicting accounts regarding the items in question, leading the court to conclude that he had deliberately attempted to mislead authorities with false information. Consequently, he was found guilty and sentenced on February 1, 2024, to 25 years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of 100,000 Rufiyaa.
Abdulla Sadiq, who smuggled narcotics into the Maldives concealed inside vases. | Maldives Police | Maldives police
The Criminal Court has sentenced an elderly man to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of smuggling narcotics into the Maldives concealed inside vases.
The verdict was delivered against Abdulla Sadiq, 65, a resident of Vehethaanuge in Hithadhoo, Addu City.
According to the Criminal Court's verdict, Sadiq arrived in the Maldives via a SriLankan Airlines flight at approximately 19:41 on September 17, 2024. While he was in the arrivals area of Velana International Airport, Maldives Customs Service officials conducted an X-ray scan of his luggage, which revealed suspicious items concealed within several vases. Upon breaking open one of the vases, officials discovered four concealed packages suspected of containing narcotics. The packages were subsequently placed back into the luggage, and both the suspect and the suitcase were taken into police custody.
According to the forensic analysis report, a police search of the luggage revealed four packages containing 169.5 grams of diamorphine. Additionally, two packages containing 35 grams of diamorphine were found concealed inside a vase within the same suitcase, while another two packages containing 68.5 grams of diamorphine were discovered hidden inside a second vase.
Consequently, Sadiq has been charged with smuggling narcotics into the Maldives.
The Criminal Court stated that the defense failed to present any evidence during the preliminary hearing of the case.
However, during the trial, Sadiq denied the charges, claiming that while the items were handed over to him, he had no knowledge that they contained narcotics or any prohibited substances.
Testimonies have been recorded from 11 out of the 16 witnesses produced by the state in this case.
Among the witnesses who testified in the case, a customs officer stated that when questioned about the discovery of the drugs, Sadiq claimed the items were given to him by a hotel cleaner. The officer’s testimony further noted that upon being questioned regarding his additional travels to Sri Lanka, Sadiq changed his account, claiming the items had been given to him by a sister.
Furthermore, when Customs officers broke open the vase and tested its contents using a field test kit, the substance tested positive for heroin. Upon being questioned for a third time regarding the items, the suspect stated that they were given by an individual named Looth residing in Bangalore.
Customs officers stated that during the initial questioning regarding these items, the individual provided three different accounts across three separate occasions.
Consequently, based on the circumstances of the case, the court concluded that he had attempted to deceive and provide false information. The court found him guilty of the charges and, on February 1, 2024, sentenced him to 25 years in prison. Additionally, Sadiq was ordered to pay a fine of 100,000 Rufiyaa.
However, after deducting the time already served in pre-trial detention, the court ruled that he must serve a remaining sentence of 23 years, seven months, and 14 days.
