Two Indian Nationals Remanded Pending Trial Over 8.3kg Drug Smuggling Case

Two Indian nationals arrested in connection with the smuggling of more than 8.3 kilograms of drugs into the Maldives have been ordered to remain in custody pending trial by the Criminal Court.

Police arrested five suspects at Velana International Airport (VIA) in early June after customs officers discovered more than 8.3 kilograms of drugs concealed in false bottoms of luggage brought from Bengaluru, India.

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The suspects are Mohamed Mushtaq Jamal, 29, and Sirajuddin Rashitha, 26, both Indian nationals, along with Ahmed Afrah, 33, of L. Gan, Ilyas Ahmed, 42, of Malé, and Hassan Shammoon, 36, of Malé.

The three Maldivian suspects were remanded in custody for 30 days by the Criminal Court on 25 June. Their remand is due to expire on 25 July.

The two Indian nationals appeared before the Criminal Court on Wednesday after their previous remand period expired. According to the court order, Customs officers identified irregularities during an X-ray scan of their luggage, and a subsequent inspection uncovered false compartments containing substances suspected to be drugs.

Laboratory analysis confirmed that the substances tested positive for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabinol, with a combined weight of 8.3 kilograms, the court order stated.

During the hearing, both suspects said the luggage had been arranged by a man known as “Bhai”, who had allegedly promised to pay them. The court order did not provide any further details about the individual.

The Criminal Court ruled that both men should remain in custody until the conclusion of their trial, stating that their release would pose a risk to public safety.

The case falls under the amended Narcotics Act, which came into force in March. The legislation introduced the death penalty for importing specified quantities of certain drugs. Under the law, a death sentence can only be imposed with the unanimous agreement of all Supreme Court justices. If unanimity is not reached, the sentence becomes life imprisonment together with a fine ranging from MVR 100,000 to MVR 10 million.