Decision to auction seized sea cucumbers made to prevent them from spoiling; proceeds will be handed over to rightful owner once their identity is legally established: Ihusan

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan has stated that the decision to auction sea cucumbers valued at MVR 2 million currently in police custody was made due to a lack of facilities to preserve them. The Minister further clarified that once the rightful owner is determined, the proceeds from the sale will be handed over to them.

Responding to a question from RaajjeTV during a press conference on Thursday, the Minister stated that he had looked into the details of the incident. The Minister further noted that information received indicates the items were stored in a Thilafushi warehouse operated by a police officer as a private venture. He added that some of the goods were reportedly being stored there on behalf of other parties.

We have received information regarding a warehouse in Thilafushi operated as a private venture by a police officer. According to reports, another party had been using the facility to store sea cucumbers, including a stock belonging to a separate group. When the entire consignment was discovered after being moved to a different location in Male', the matter was reported to the authorities. The police subsequently took the items into custody and have since launched an investigation into the case.

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan.

The Minister stated that during the investigation, the claimants were unable to provide definitive proof of ownership of the sea cucumbers. He further noted that the claimants themselves admitted that not all the items found at the site belonged to them.

The Minister stated that under the law, the ownership of these items must be established. However, given their perishable nature, the process of auctioning them has commenced following legal counsel from the Prosecutor General’s Office. Noting that the items include both live and dried specimens, the Minister further highlighted that the police service currently lacks the necessary facilities to store and maintain such goods.

The Minister further stated that the proceeds from the sale of these items would be handed over to their rightful owners.

"We have decided to auction these items and convert them into cash. This way, once the case is concluded and the rightful owner is identified, we will be able to hand over the proceeds to them."

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan

The Minister stated that there are instances of ethical and disciplinary misconduct within the police force, and that necessary measures are being taken to address these issues. He further noted that it is unfair to discredit the entire institution due to the actions of a few individual officers.