Police to Auction MVR 2 Million Worth of Recovered Sea Cucumbers
Stolen sea cucumbers valued at MVR 2 million to be auctioned by police
The Maldives Police Service has announced plans to auction sea cucumbers valued at MVR 2 million that were recovered following a theft from a warehouse in Thilafushi, after authorities were unable to determine the lawful owner.
The case, filed on 31 December, concerns an incident on 29 December in which the warehouse owner was allegedly deceived and the sea cucumbers were removed from the premises and transferred to another location.
Investigations revealed that the items had been transported from Thilafushi to Malé and stored in two residential properties in Thilafushi. Searches conducted under a court order led to the seizure of the sea cucumbers.
The total weight of the seized items was 1,438 kilograms, including 787.35 kilograms classified as prohibited for export. Police said the activity had been carried out by individuals who did not hold licences to process sea cucumbers under the Sea Cucumber Fisheries Planning and Management Regulations.
Following the seizure, both the complainant and the accused claimed ownership of the items, and some of the sea cucumbers held in custody have since deteriorated. Legal advice was sought from the Prosecutor General’s Office on how to proceed.
The Prosecutor General’s Office advised that property may only be released under the Prosecution Procedure Rules when the rightful owner is known. As ownership remains disputed, there is currently no legal basis to return the items.
The office recommended that the sea cucumbers be sold at public auction, with the proceeds held by police until the conclusion of the investigation or trial. Funds would be released as compensation in accordance with the court’s direction.
The man accused of stealing and storing the sea cucumbers had filed a case at the Criminal Court last month seeking their return. The court ruled that there was no legal impediment to retaining the items in police custody until investigations are completed or a judicial determination is made, and declined to order their release.
