More Than MVR 300 Million Traced to Accounts of Drug Operation Suspects

More than MVR 300 million and over USD 400,000 circulated through the bank accounts of individuals arrested under Operation Alimagu over the past five years, police said, highlighting the scale of a long-running drug trafficking and money laundering network.

The Maldives Police Service said four people were arrested and 10 locations searched in Gaafu Alifu Atoll and the Malé region during an operation carried out on 11 January 2026. The operation targeted suspects believed to be involved in smuggling narcotics into the Maldives, profiting from their distribution and laundering illicit proceeds.

Those arrested were Shaffah Latheef, 28, of Shevona, GA. Villingili, Ahmed Madheeh, 33, of Musicyaage, GA. Villingili, Ahmed Anaam Ibrahim, 30, of Aizan, GA. Villingili, and Nooru Nizam, 35, of Aaraairuge, GA. Villingili. Amongst them Ahmed Anaam Ibrahim was working at the Economic Ministry as a senior political director. 

"އޮޕަރޭޝަން އަލިމަގު" ގެ ދަށުން މާލެ އާއި ގއ. އަތޮޅުގައި މިއަދު ކުރިއަށްގެންދިޔަ އޮޕަރޭޝަންގައި ހައްޔަރުކޮށްފައިވަނީ ޝެވޯނާ / ގއ.ވިލިނގިލި، ޝައްފާޙް ލަޠީފް (28އ) އާއި މިޔުޒިކީއާގެ / ގއ.ވިލިނގިލި، އަޙްމަދު މަދީޙު (33އ) އާއި އައިޒަން / ގއ.ވިލިނގިލި، އަޙްމަދު އަނާމް އިބްރާހީމް (30އ)… pic.twitter.com/v0NQGGqspu— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) January 11, 2026

When produced before court for remand hearings, judges ordered Shaffah Latheef, Ahmed Madheeh and Ahmed Anaam Ibrahim to be detained until the conclusion of their trials. Nooru Nizam was remanded in custody for 15 days.

Police said the four are suspected to be key operatives within an organised network engaged in drug trafficking and money laundering. Investigators launched a special inquiry into the network in March 2025 and have established that it has been trafficking narcotics since 2015.

According to police findings, more than MVR 300 million and over USD 400,000 circulated through the bank accounts of members of the network over the past five years. Investigators have identified 19 individuals believed to be actively involved in drug trafficking and money laundering under the leadership of the main suspect and those operating under him. All remain under police investigation. 

Police also detailed large discrepancies between recorded income and bank transactions linked to the suspects. Investigators found that MVR 17,174,461.12 circulated through the bank accounts of Ahmed Madheeh during the period under review, while salary deposits totalled only MVR 430,638.99. In the case of Ahmed Anaam Ibrahim, MVR 38,812,690.60 circulated through his accounts, compared with salary deposits of MVR 271,874.32. Shaffah Latheef’s accounts recorded MVR 6,916,752.83 in circulation, despite salary deposits amounting to MVR 371,635.36.

As part of the investigation, police have frozen 53 bank accounts belonging to 13 individuals under court orders. The Maldives Police Service said Operation Alimagu remains ongoing as authorities work to dismantle the network and recover illicit proceeds.