Maldivian National Gets 20 Years in Vietnam for Drug Trafficking

A court in Vietnam’s central coastal province of Khánh Hoà has sentenced a 30-year-old Maldivian national, Mohamed Anil, to 20 years in prison for illegally transporting over 1.5 kilograms of narcotics into the country from Thailand, following a ruling on September 24.

State media Việt Nam News reported that Vietnamese authorities apprehended Anil following an operation targeting international drug smuggling routes after discovering the illicit substances concealed in his possession.

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Việt Nam News cited the official indictment, which stated that customs officers at Cam Ranh International Airport in Khánh Hoà Province first detected suspected drugs in Anil’s checked baggage and carry-on luggage during routine passenger screenings on December 8, 2025.

Subsequent drug test results confirmed that Anil tested negative for illicit substances.

Investigations reported by the news agency revealed that while staying at a Bangkok hotel on November 7, 2025, Anil was hired by an unidentified acquaintance named ‘Afoo’ to transport six packages of drugs from Thailand to Vietnam.

Việt Nam News reported that ‘Afoo’, based in Pattaya, packed the narcotics into Anil’s suitcase and instructed him that a contact would reach out to collect the delivery upon his arrival in Vietnam. The news outlet further detailed that Anil was promised $1,000 for the task and received an advance payment of $500 to cover his travel and living expenses.

Following his 20-year prison sentence, the court mandated that Anil be formally deported from Vietnam upon completing his jail term.