130kg drug bust: trial to commence on Sunday

The court trial in the 130-kilogram drug bust is scheduled to begin on Sunday.

The hearings in connection to the case are set to commence at 1pm at the Criminal Court.

The drug operation was prompted by an intel report indicating that individuals were attempting to smuggle drugs into the country, in cooperation with foreign parties.

Officers of the Maldives Police Service (MPS)’s Drug Enforcement Department, Police Intelligence as well as the Marine Police joined in collaborative efforts to confiscate the 130-kilograms of drugs onboard a fishing vessel, on October 12, last year.

The drugs seized in the operation were heroin and methamphetamine.

A total of seven suspects were arrested in the drug operation, all men, aged between 25 and 48. One of the suspects is a minor.

Under the same operation, officers have raided three apartments in Hulhumalé as well as two houses in Malé City.

Council member of opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Shaheeb Ibrahim, 42, native to Villingili island of Gaaf Alif atoll and one of the suspected masterminds of the smuggling attempt served several top positions in ministries during now incarcerated former President Abdulla Yameen’s tenure.

The other suspected mastermind of the foiled drug smuggling attempt is Hoarafushi native, Ahmed Moosa, 48.

In December, the Prosecutor General’s Office raised three major charges against Shaheeb, including trafficking diamorphine, trafficking drugs as well as smuggling drugs into the Maldives.

Alongside Shaheeb and Moosa, charges were also raised against Aseel Mahir, native to GA. Villingili, Anas Hussain, native to Lh. Hinnavaru and two Bangladeshi nationals, Mohamed Riyad and Iqbal.

Shaheeb and the others charged, stand to face a jail sentence of 75 years, if he is found guilty of the charges through the court process.

PGO also alleged that Shaheeb is the ringleader of a major drug network.

On December 9, the Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s ruling to jail Shaheeb pending the outcome of his trial, linked to the drug bust of 130 kilograms confiscated by officers aboard a fishing vessel.

As such, the top court ruled that there is “no reason” to bring any amendments to the High Court verdict. PGO appealed the case at High Court, after Shaheeb’s release was ordered by the Criminal Court, upon being presented to the court for his second remand extension hearing.

Police earlier revealed that Shaheeb was believed to be linked to the drugs confiscated from an Iranian boat found in Maldivian waters, during November 2019.