A man who was arrested for smuggling drugs into the country concealed in a pair of shoes has claimed that the substance is legal in India and he had been unaware it is illegal in the Maldives. 

Suraj Karwar, 30, was arrested last May after Customs officials found drugs concealed in a pair of tennis shoes in his luggage. 

He has been held in custody since then as the investigation proceeds, with his remand extended several times. 

The court order from yesterday's remand hearing states that Karwar had claimed in court that the substance found in his shoes was a herbal substance which is legal in India. He is said to have claimed that he had been unaware it is banned in the Maldives. 

The court order does not specify the type of drugs found, nor its quantity. Nor does it elaborate on why the substance had been concealed when the suspect claims he had been unaware that it is illegal. 

Despite the suspect's claims, the court extended his remand by another 15 days.