Senior Economic Ministry Political Director Dismissed After Arrest in Drug and Money Laundering Probe

A senior political director at the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade has been removed from his post after being arrested in a major drug trafficking and money laundering investigation, the President’s Office confirmed today. 

President’s Office spokesperson Heena Waleed told MV+ that Ahmed Anaam Ibrahim was dismissed from his position after his arrest during Operation Alimagu, a nationwide operation carried out by the Maldives Police Service on Sunday.

Police arrested Ahmed Anaam Ibrahim alongside three other individuals during coordinated searches conducted in Gaafu Alifu Atoll and the Malé region. The operation targeted a network suspected of smuggling narcotics into the Maldives, profiting from their distribution and laundering the proceeds. The other suspects arrested were Shaffah Latheef, Ahmed Madheeh, and Nooru Nizam, all from GA. Villingili. All are believed to have played operational roles within the same network.

"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

According to police investigations, more than MVR 38.8 million circulated through Ahmed Anaam Ibrahim’s bank accounts over the past five years. Authorities have said this figure forms part of over MVR 300 million and more than USD 400,000 traced through accounts linked to the wider network under investigation.

Ahmed Anaam Ibrahim was remanded in custody until the conclusion of his trial, while police said investigations remain ongoing into the broader network, which they believe has been active since 2015.