Man Sentenced to 50 Years for Taping Drugs to Thighs and Attempting to Smuggle Them to Kooddoo

The Criminal Court has sentenced a man to 50 years in prison after finding him guilty of two counts of attempting to traffic drugs from Velana International Airport to Gaafu Alifu Atoll Kooddoo.

Abdulla Faseeh of Haveereege, Shaviyani Atoll Noomaraa, was also ordered to pay a total fine of MVR200,000.

Faseeh was arrested at Velana International Airport on 7 October 2024 as he was preparing to board a flight to Kooddoo. Authorities found illicit drugs concealed beneath duct tape wrapped around both of his thighs during a search.

According to a judgment issued by Criminal Court Judge Ali Nadeem, Faseeh was convicted of attempting to traffic 23.5 grams of diamorphine and 252 grams of cannabis.

For the diamorphine offence, the court imposed a life sentence and a MVR100,000 fine. After accounting for the seven months and 27 days Faseeh had spent in pre-trial detention, the enforceable portion of the prison sentence for that charge was reduced to 24 years, four months and three days.

The court imposed a second life sentence and another MVR100,000 fine for the cannabis trafficking charge. The combined sentences resulted in a total enforceable prison term of 50 years.

The cannabis was found inside 10 film canisters attached beneath the tape on Faseeh’s thighs, according to the judgment.

The court ordered Faseeh to pay the combined MVR200,000 fine to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) within 12 months of the sentencing date.

During the proceedings, Faseeh’s defence argued that he had committed the offences under coercion and was a victim of human trafficking.

The court rejected the argument, noting that the defence had not presented evidence to substantiate the claim. The judgment also noted that Faseeh had exercised his right to remain silent during police questioning.