The Criminal Court of the Maldives has issued an order to release four individuals arrested through a drug operation, to house arrest for the remainder of their trial.
Maldives Police Service arrested eight individuals who were members of drug trafficking network during an operation conducted on 30 January at a house in capital city Malé.
The four individuals ordered to be released to house arrest by the Criminal Court are;
- Arushad Khalid (Allora, GDh. Hoadehdhoo),
- Ahmed Sunainu (Irumatheege, GDh. Hoadehdhoo);
- Ali Zubair (Guleynooranmaage, GDh. Hoadehdhoo), and
- Ahmed Giyas (Madrit House, GDh. Hoadehdhoo).
Arushad was charged for trafficking in diamorphine, Sunainu was charged for trafficking in diamorphine and for the use of Schedule 1 drugs, Zubair was charged for trafficking in diamorphine and Schedule 1 drugs and lastly, Giyas was charged for aiding in the trafficking of diamorphine under the Narcotic Drugs Act (17/2011).
Out of the four, Giyas was never arrested before and he does not have a criminal history either, however, Arushad is a known drug kingpin and the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) had raised charges against all four after their arrest.
During the raid, over nine kilograms of heroin, more than four grams of cocaine and suspected drug trade money was confiscated during a search in ten houses and a number of vehicles.
The PGO earlier requested the court to seize a total of MVR 3،797،702 of suspected drug trade money under section 160 and 158(a) of the Drugs Act.
