Chocolate syrup case: bid to sell company emerges

Mohamed Aadil has told the court in drugs smuggled in the chocolate syrup bottle case that Ahmed Ali, owner of the company who had smuggled the syrup bottles filled with drugs, is working to sell his company.

The two men suspected of smuggling drugs into the Maldives by sea concealed in bottles labelled as chocolate syrup were identified as Mohamed Aadil, 57, of Golden House, Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo, and Ahmed Ali, 47, of Aafiyaa, Haa Alifu Hoarafushi.

Mohamed Ali, who had been arrested for attempting to clear or receive goods containing drugs concealed in chocolate syrup bottles, said that he went to collect the boxes solely in his capacity as a professional goods-clearance agent and had no knowledge that the bottles contained drugs.

The importing company, Raas Maldives, responsible for smuggling the drug-filled bottles is Aadil's company. However, when he was taken for a remand hearing to the Criminal Court today, the court order stated that the company is in the process of liquidation, along with work being done for it to be sold to Ahmed Ali.

An additional 10 days has been added to his remand in custody by the court.

Ahmed Ali was arrested on 26th December, with Aadil having been arrested the next day.

According to the arrest warrant, the drugs were imported under the name of Aadil’s company, Raas Maldives. Aadil is the managing director of the company, which was registered 16 years ago to import various goods into the Maldives.

Customs had discovered the bottles full of hashish oil on 25th December when they were searching the goods that had been packed into boxes and imported by Raas Maldives.

Customs said the seized hashish oil weighed more than 40kg and had an estimated street value exceeding MVR 30 million. The substances were packed in 10 boxes.