A Man Jailed for Life Over Drug Trafficking Between Malé and Kulhudhuffushi

A man has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of trafficking drugs while working as a crew member on a boat operating between Malé City and Kulhudhuffushi City.

Ali Mohamed, from Kulhudhuffushi City, was arrested on 5 January 2023 at Malé’s North Harbour after police reportedly found a paper bag containing 50 grams of diamorphine in his possession. He was later charged with drug trafficking.

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According to the judgment delivered yesterday by the Kulhudhuffushi Magistrate Court, police officers discovered the drugs in a plastic bag inside the pocket of Mohamed’s jeans. Photographs submitted as evidence did not show any name or contact number on the bag, but the court found this did not undermine the prosecution’s case.

“It is clear that the bag containing the drugs was in his jeans pocket, with his knowledge,” the verdict stated.

Mohamed denied the allegations throughout the proceedings but did not present any evidence in his defence, the court noted.

Kulhudhuffushi Court Chief Magistrate Mohamed Ismail sentenced him to life imprisonment, which is 25 years in jail and imposed a fine of MVR 100,000. The defendant has been ordered to pay the fine within 12 months.