A man arrested after 17.7kg of drugs were recovered from two houses in Gaafu Alifu Maamendhoo told the Criminal Court that he was not on the island when the drugs were found.

Police arrested two men suspected of leading a drug trafficking network during an operation on September 2.

The men were identified as Azhad Naseem, Fiyaathoshivilla and Rishfan Rameez, Roashaneege, both from Maamendhoo.

Azhad’s remand was extended by 15 days after he was produced before the court.

According to the court order, the case was submitted with intelligence reports, drug analysis reports, police statements and witness testimony.

The order said sealed packets of drugs were recovered from Azhad’s house, with about 17kg of drugs allegedly found there. It also noted that Azhad had a previous drug-related record.

However, Azhad’s lawyer told the court that the drugs were found in a house adjacent to his, and that Azhad was not on the island at the time. The lawyer said Azhad had no connection to the drugs.

Azhad was previously arrested on February 21 after more than 3kg of drugs were found on a vessel. He was arrested along with a Bangladeshi national identified as Haneef following intelligence that Azhad was in possession of and trafficking drugs.

It is unclear from the court order why Azhad was subsequently released.