Man gets life sentence for smuggling in drugs to Kulhudhuffushi

The Kulhudhuffushi Magistrate Court has sentenced an individual to life in prison for smuggling in drugs to the island via a supply boat.

This is the first time that the city's Magistrate Court has passed such a sentence. Previously, drug trafficking cases were only heard by the Criminal Court. However, with a later amendment to the Drugs Act, magistrate courts can also hear such cases now.

Police arrested the man in question after he received two cardboard boxes brought in via a supply boat that arrived in Kulhudhuffushi from Male'. On search of the boxes, Police discovered drugs inside.

The drugs were concealed in a bag that was tied around the roots of a plant inside one of the boxes. Police conducted testing on the substance found, with the subsequent report stating it contained 51.15g of diamorphine. With this, diamorphine trafficking charges were brought against the individual, who denied the charges in court.

Magistrate Mohamed Ismail, in his verdict, said that based on the evidence provided by witnesses, it is proven that it was the accused who went to the boat to receive the box in which the drugs were found. He further said that it is proven beyond doubt that the box was in his possession when Police stopped him and searched the box.

The man, however, claimed that the box did not belong to him, and instead had been brought to the island by his wife. He said that he had gone to the boat to receive the box on request of his wife as well. He had received the boxes from the boat soon after it docked at the Kulhudhuffushi harbour and gone to take the boxes away on his motorcycle.

The verdict, however, said that the search of the boxes following observation of his conduct and information received by the Police resulted in aligning with Police intelligence reports. It is further believed that he had been aware that there were drugs in the box in his possession, the verdict said.

The court ruled him guilty beyond doubt, and passed a twenty five year prison sentence on him. He was also fined MVR 100,000, which has to be paid to the State within a period of 12 months.