10 arrested in Addu drug network; police search 10 locations

Police have arrested 10 individuals in Addu City in a wide scale crackdown targeting a drug trafficking network operating in Hithadhoo.

According to Maldives Police Service, six of the arrested suspects were taken before the court, where their remand periods were extended.

Another individual arrested under Operation Alimagu identified as Hassan Nazeef, 36, of Gulkandhuge, S. Hithadhoo was produced before court yesterday and remanded for five additional days for investigation.

Police on Wednesday night released the names of the five suspects arrested on Wednesday, all from S. Hithadhoo, an island police describe as both the most populous and most affected by drug networks in Addu.

Those arrested are:

Nadeem, Hafiz, and Siraj were remanded for 30 days, while Alfaaf and Ameen were remanded for five days.

Police said all five belong to the “Milo” group, a long time drug network in Hithadhoo. Nadeem is believed to be the most senior member among those arrested.

Police said that the investigation was opened in March this year, focusing on drug trafficking and money-laundering activities. The network is suspected to have been active since 2017. Over the past five years, more than MVR 19 million was funneled through accounts belonging to four members of the group, police said.

The arrests come as the Parliament this week approved amendments to the Narcotic Drugs Act, enabling the Supreme Court to impose the death penalty for drug import or trafficking cases provided the ruling is unanimous among presiding judges. The amendment also removes the existing 25 year life sentence, replacing it with life imprisonment.