Three Arrested at Velana Airport for Smuggling Over 6kg of Drugs

Three people have been arrested at Velana International Airport on suspicion of smuggling more than six kilogrammes of narcotics into the Maldives.

Authorities identified the suspects as Ali Irfan, 28, of Hithilaage in Gadhdhoo, and two Indian nationals — Dhanushkandan Gopal, 19, and Kathirvil Manimaran, 21.

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The trio were initially detained by the Maldives Customs Service upon arrival at the airport before being handed over to the Maldives Police Service for further investigation.

Police said the suspects were taken into custody on 3 March on allegations of importing, possessing and trafficking narcotics.

Following their arrest, the suspects were presented before court, where the court ordered Ali Irfan to remain in custody until the conclusion of his trial. The two Indian nationals were remanded in custody for five days.

Police said the investigation into the case is ongoing.

The arrests come as stricter penalties for drug trafficking have come into force in the Maldives.

The third amendment to the Drugs Act, which introduces the death penalty for those convicted of smuggling drugs into the country, came into effect yesterday.

Under the new provisions, the Supreme Court of the Maldives may impose the death penalty if it unanimously determines that such a sentence is warranted. The law applies to individuals trafficking more than 350 grams of cannabis, 250 grams of diamorphine (heroin), or 100 grams of other illicit drugs.

The amendment also removes the previous maximum prison sentence of 25 years under the Drugs Act. Life sentences have been revised to mean imprisonment for the remainder of a convict’s natural life.