Indian couple arrested for attempting to smuggle drugs into the Maldives
A court has ordered a 30-day remand for an Indian couple arrested for allegedly smuggling 2.4 kilograms of narcotics into the Maldives. While the female suspect has expressed a willingness to cooperate with the investigation and serve as a state witness, police confirmed that the drugs were discovered inside the couple's luggage. The court ordered their continued detention citing potential flight risks and the danger their release could pose to public safety.
Criminal Court. | RaajjeMV | RaajjeMV
An Indian couple has been arrested and remanded in custody for attempting to smuggle narcotics into the Maldives.
An Indian couple, Chris Ambrosia, 27, and Imran Pasha, 33, were arrested and remanded in custody on Thursday in connection with a drug-related case. The pair is accused of smuggling, selling, and trafficking narcotics into the Maldives. Both individuals have been remanded for a period of 30 days.
The detention order states that sufficient evidence has been presented to support the allegations against the two suspects. The defense did not contest the fact that substances suspected to be narcotics were discovered in the luggage seized in this case. Furthermore, it has been established that the luggage brought by Imran contained illicit drugs. To support the case against the individuals, the police submitted several pieces of evidence, including Maldives Customs Service forms, a statement from an officer who attended the scene, and a Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) report.
The court determined that the two individuals must remain in custody based on Article 49 of the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives, as well as Sections 59 and 60 of the Criminal Procedure Act (Law No. 12/2016). The ruling cited concerns that they might flee if released, and emphasized that their continued detention is necessary for the safety and security of the community.
According to the court order, the interim weight of the narcotics seized in this case is 2.4 kilograms. Police stated that the suspect, Imran, arrived in the Maldives with his wife, Chris Ambrosia, and that substances suspected to be drugs were discovered in both of their luggage. While the defense did not dispute that the items were found in the luggage, they raised questions regarding whether the suspect was aware of their presence.
According to Ambrosia's detention order, she arrived in the Maldives with her fiancé. While police stated that suspected narcotics were discovered in both of their suitcases, she maintained that only Imran Pasha would know the true contents of the luggage involved in the case. Furthermore, she expressed her willingness to cooperate with the investigation and stated her desire to serve as a state witness in the matter.
