Pakistani national sentenced to life imprisonment for smuggling narcotics into the Maldives on multiple occasions
Abdul Latheef Baloch has been sentenced to life imprisonment and fined two million Rufiyaa following his conviction. Police records and detention logs indicate that Baloch had a prior arrest for a similar offense before this case. In the 2023 incident, it was noted that an unidentified individual removed his luggage from the airport baggage carousel.
The Criminal Court on the 9th of this month found Abdul Latheef Baloch guilty and delivered its verdict against him. | RaajjeMV | RaajjeMV
A Pakistani national has been sentenced to life imprisonment for smuggling narcotics into the Maldives on multiple occasions.
The state has filed charges against an individual named Abdul Latheef Baloch for the illegal importation of narcotics into the Maldives.
According to the indictment, Abdul Latheef Baloch arrived at Velana International Airport on a Qatar Airways flight at approximately 8:05 AM on March 12, 2024. After landing, he proceeded to the Customs Red Channel with a piece of luggage. Upon questioning by Customs officers and a review of his boarding pass, it was discovered that a second piece of luggage had been checked in under his name. The second piece of luggage, a black bag, was subsequently located and brought to the Red Channel for screening. X-ray examination revealed suspicious contents, leading to a physical search of the bag. The search uncovered two packages wrapped in black rubber, which laboratory analysis later confirmed contained 5,200.1 grams of diamorphine (heroin).
He denied the charges filed against him on May 7, 2024.
However, the court ruled that the charges were proven based on the testimony provided by the prosecution's witnesses, including police and customs officers. The court stated that documentation was submitted confirming two pieces of luggage were checked in under the name of Abdul Latheef Baloch. It further noted that this information matched the details of the luggage he brought and the bags in which the narcotics were discovered.
The court noted that Abdul Latheef Baloch’s conduct in this case involved traveling to the Maldives with two pieces of luggage, yet attempting to exit the airport while abandoning the bag containing the narcotics on the luggage belt. It was further observed that his plan likely failed because he inadvertently entered the Customs Red Channel.
Furthermore, arrest logs and police statements indicate that Abdul Latheef Baloch had been detained for a similar offense prior to this incident. In a 2023 case, someone reportedly removed his luggage from the airport carousel, and charges could not be filed at the time because the missing bag was never recovered. The court noted that the same modus operandi was employed in this latest attempt to smuggle narcotics.
Following the conviction, the Criminal Court has sentenced Abdul Latheef Baloch to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of two million Rufiyaa. The court further ordered that the fine be paid to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) within a 12-month period, commencing from February 9, 2026.
Abdul Latheef Baloch is required to serve a prison sentence of 23 years and 20 days in connection with this case.
