130kg drug bust: suspected mastermind further remanded

Criminal Court has extended the remand of Ahmed Moosa, one of the suspected masterminds arrested for attempting to smuggle over 100 kilograms of drugs aboard a fishing vessel.

While he was presented to court on Sunday following the expiration of the first remand period issued, the court ruled to extend his remand by an additional 15 days as the investigation proceeds; he was previously issued a five-day remand period.

130 kilograms of drugs were seized through an special police operation last Monday, from a boat docked near the capital’s suburb Hulhumale’. The drugs seized were heroin and methamphetamine.

Police said that sea operation was conducted following reports of a major drug shipment headed towards the country, by a local drug network working with foreigners.

Three residence’s in Hulhumale’ and two in Male’ City were searched in relation to the drug bust.

Moosa was arrested along six other, including another suspected mastermind in the drug operation, Shaheeb Ibrahim, as well as a minor.

While the latter has been identified as a senior official of the opposition, he is also linked to the Iranian boat caught with over 70 kilograms of drugs in inside Maldivian territory in late 2019.

The Juvenile Court remanded the minor for 10 days, with a 15-day remand issued for Shaheeb and others.