Company chief's remand extended in drug smuggling

Police have said today that the remand has been extended by 15 days of the company owner involved in the smuggling of drugs via sea concealed in chocolate syrup bottles. 

On December 25, Customs inspected goods brought in to Maldives by a company named Raas Maldives and uncovered hashish oil concealed in chocolate syrup bottles. 

Two persons were arrested in relation to the case, including Raas Maldives' Managing Director Mohamed Aadil, 57, Golden House, GDh. Thinadhoo. 

Aadhil is a director at Raas Maldives, which was registered 16 years ago and imports various goods to Maldives. As per the Economic Ministry portal, the other shareholder of the company is a woman. 

Police said today that the Criminal Court had extended Aadhil's remand by 15 days on the expiry of the initial 5 days remand in custody granted for investigative purposes. Aadhil was arrested on December 27. 

The second individual arrested is the person Raas Maldives notified Customs' Sea Cargo Examination as responsible for clearing the shipment. He is Ahmed Ali, 47, of Afiya, HA. Hoarafushi. 

Police said that after Ahmed Ali was arrested on December 26, the Criminal Court had placed him in remand in custody for ten days. They clarified that an earlier mention of five days was an error. 

Customs said that the weight of the seized hashish oil exceed 40kg, with the street value estimated at over MVR 30 million. The bottles were stored in ten separate boxes during smuggling.