Three additional suspects in the major counter-narcotics operation in early October from Addu City, have been remanded pending the outcome of their trial.
Maldives Police Service (MPS) revealed that the court remanded Hassan Amir, 25, Hoodh Latheef, 24 and Hussain Simah, 27, all native to Hithadhoo district of the southernmost city, for the remainder of their trial.
Hoodh was arrested on October 7 and had been remanded pending the outcome of his trial the same day. The remaining two were remanded on Friday.
With this, a total of five have been remanded for the remainder of their trials including Abdulla Ibrahim, 33 and Mohamed Yameen Naseer, 23.
A total of 16 suspects were arrested during the operation that began on October 1. Two were arrested on October 5 and October 7, respectively.
Earlier, the police institute released eight out of the 16 suspects as keeping them in police custody for further investigation, was not believed to be necessary.
One of the individuals released on Friday was Shamweel Gasim, celebrated former footballer.
Police confiscated a total of 98.6 kilograms and arrested 14 individuals in connection to the major counter-narcotics operation in early October. The suspects arrested in the case are aged between 23 and 40, some of the narcotics seized include MDMA, and amphetamines and heroin.
The counter-narcotics operation began on October 1 and was carried out by officers from the Drug Enforcement Department (DED), Drugs Intelligence Unit, Divisional Intelligence Department, Marine Police, and South Police Division after an intelligence report of attempted drug smuggling via sea route.
The smuggling was being attempted by a group of Maldivians in cooperation with international traffickers and is led by Ibrahim, who is an alleged drug kingpin according to police findings.
According to the police, Ibrahim was arrested during July last year as well, under similar accusations of smuggling and trafficking drugs. The institute had concluded investigations and forwarded the case for prosecution, however, the alleged drug kingpin was released by the Criminal Court during September the same year, after having been charged for drug smuggling and trafficking.
