A court has remanded six Bangladeshi nationals in custody for 30 days after foreign currency worth an estimated MVR3.8 million was recovered from them at Velana International Airport.
The six were detained at the airport on September 18 in an operation conducted following a tip-off received by a police task force.
They are accused of money laundering and were produced in court for an extension of their remand. The court ordered all six to remain in custody for 30 days.
Those arrested are:
- MD Mohiddin Chaudhury, 28;
- Rajib, 31;
- Ajgor Mirida, 37;
- MD Shahin Miah, 46;
- Mohamed Mainuddin Salah, 35; and
- Mohamed Abdullah, 38.
According to the court order, Mohiddin had previously attempted to smuggle money out of the Maldives.
Rajib’s lawyer told the court that his client had no involvement in the alleged offence, according to the remand order.
The court order concerning Shahin said CCTV footage submitted as evidence showed his involvement in the alleged offence. His lawyer told the court that Shahin had gone to the airport only to pick someone up. However, the court order said still images from the CCTV footage indicated greater involvement.
Police previously said they had recovered USD174,161, EUR56,760, GBP1,815 and currencies from 18 countries.
The total value of the seized currency was estimated at MVR3.8 million, police said.
Photographs released by police showed the money hidden inside cereal packets.
