Man caught with two kilograms of drugs pleads guilty, receives 12 year sentence

A man arrested with more than two kilograms of cannabis and cash has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after entering into a plea deal with state prosecutors, allowing him to avoid a potential life sentence.

G. Massaaguge Hussain Shah was charged with cannabis trafficking in September 2020 after officers recovered a large quantity of drugs, equipment used to weigh them and a significant amount of money from his residence and related premises. In total, investigators seized 2.5kg of cannabis.

Shah initially pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea and entered into a plea agreement with the state. Cannabis trafficking carries a 25-year sentence on conviction, but prosecutors may negotiate reduced sentences under such agreements.

Under the deal, the prosecution sought a 12 year, six month sentence and a fine of MVR 50,000.

The court accepted the agreement and imposed the sentence. The state was also authorized to seize the MVR 61,230 found during the investigation.

Shah has already spent five years, three months and four days in custody. With time served deducted, he will remain in prison for a further seven years, two months and 26 days.

The Drugs Act previously permitted plea agreements in trafficking cases, but the recent amendment has prohibited such deals. Once the amendment comes into force three months after ratification, the state will no longer be able to negotiate reduced sentences in these cases. The amendment also increases the penalty for cannabis trafficking from 25 years to life imprisonment.