An Indian national arrested in connection with smuggling of 5 kg of drugs into the Maldives has been remanded in custody by the Criminal Court.
The 56-year-old Indian woman was apprehended by Maldives Customs Service last Wednesday after trafficking drugs via Ethiopia to the Maldives. It is estimated that the street value for the drugs found hidden in her handbag would amount to MVR 9 Million (USD 586,000).
The accused was produce in court on Thursday and remanded in police custody for three days and directed the police to appoint a translator for the next hearing.
On Thursday, a Pakistani national was apprehended by Maldives Customs Service with around 5kg of drugs, estimated at a street value of MVR 6 million (over USD 390,000).
Recently, the Maldives Immigration, introduced a regulation allowing the Immigration Controller the power to deport foreigners who smuggle drugs into the country without prosecution.