Two Siblings Charged Over Drug Case in Male’

Two siblings arrested in Male’ last year in connection with a drug case have now been formally charged.

Mohamed Aish Ahmed, 31, and Aminath Illiyyin Ahmed, 25, both from Ma. Mazaage in Male’ City, were arrested in September during a joint operation conducted by Counter Narcotics Intelligence and the Drug Enforcement department under a court order.

Prosecutors have filed two charges against each of them, including trafficking a Schedule One drug and the use of cannabis. A hearing on the charges has been scheduled at the Criminal Court on Monday.

Police previously stated that the operation also resulted in the arrest of a television presenter, Inayath Ali, and that the provisional weight of the seized drugs was 1.246 kilogrammes. He was initially remanded for seven days before being released on conditional bail pending trial on 3 October 2025.

Under the Narcotics Act, trafficking a Schedule One drug, or participating in any level of trafficking, carries a penalty of life imprisonment and a fine ranging from MVR 100,000 to MVR 10 million. Possession of more than four grams of a Schedule One drug is legally classified as trafficking.

Cannabis use or possession for personal use is also a criminal offence, punishable by up to three years in prison. Possession of more than 14 grammes is treated as a trafficking offence.

The law also provides for drug-dependent offenders to undergo rehabilitation through the Drug Court, with those who successfully complete treatment not required to serve a prison sentence.