Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for “Handling” a Friend’s Bag of Drug
Police officers inspect a piece of luggage during a controlled delivery operation after narcotics were discovered concealed inside.
A Maldivian man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after being convicted of handling a bag containing drugs, which he told the court he had collected on behalf of a friend.
The Criminal Court delivered its verdict on Tuesday, sentencing Ahmed Affan of Nargisvilla, Haa Dhaalu Kumundhoo, for receiving a piece of luggage containing narcotics that had been brought into the Maldives by a Pakistani national in July 2024. In addition to the prison term, Affan was fined MVR 75,000.
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According to the court verdict, the case stemmed from a controlled delivery operation conducted under police supervision. Customs officials detected drugs in the luggage of a Pakistani national upon his arrival at Velana International Airport. Rather than making an immediate arrest, authorities proceeded with a controlled operation to identify the local recipients.
The court heard that the Pakistani national, under police supervision, stayed at a Hotel in Malé. Communication was established with Maldivian contacts via WhatsApp, during which it was agreed that the recipient would arrive carrying an MVR 50 note as a means of identification.
Affan later arrived at a location near the hotel and handed the MVR 50 note to the Pakistani national. After receiving a box from him, Affan was arrested by police. Subsequent examination revealed the box contained more than two kilograms of diamorphine.
Affan admitted that he collected the box but told the court he was unaware that it contained drugs. He stated that he had collected it on behalf of a person he identified only as “Mazin” or “MR”. However, the court noted that Affan failed to identify this individual at any stage of the investigation, and no evidence was presented in support of his defence.
The Attorney General’s Office had charged Affan alongside Sahil Mohamed of V. Sinamale’ as accomplices in smuggling narcotics into the Maldives. While Affan has now been convicted and sentenced, proceedings against Sahil Mohamed are still ongoing.
The court concluded that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and noted the absence of any exculpatory evidence presented by the defence in reaching its judgment.
