Two Arrested in Malé Over Recruitment of Teenager for Drug Delivery

Two individuals have been arrested in Malé on suspicion of recruiting a teenage boy to deliver drugs, police have confirmed.

The arrests were made on Sunday during a joint operation conducted by the Family and Child Protection Department, the Drug Enforcement Department, and the Counter-Narcotics Intelligence unit in the greater Malé area.

Police identified the suspects as Ahmed Naeem, 39, of V. Satellite, K. Malé, and Hassan Nuaz, 28, of M. Naazlee Manzil, K. Malé.

According to the police, the two are suspected of exploiting a 16-year-old boy by recruiting him to deliver drugs and involving him in criminal activities. Both suspects have been remanded in police custody for a period of 15 days.

Police stated that investigations into individuals who groom children and take advantage of their vulnerability to involve them in drug-related offences, gang activity, and acts of sexual abuse are being treated as a priority.

Authorities added that efforts are ongoing to identify such individuals and that police are working closely with relevant agencies to ensure those responsible are held accountable under the law.