Three, including Malay woman, arrested in MVR 2.2M heroin smuggling attempt

Three people, including a Malaysian national, have been arrested by Maldivian police on suspicion of attempting to smuggle over two kilos of drugs into the country via air.

According to the police, the three suspects were arrested on Saturday.

They are:

• Ahmed Rishmah, 21, Sunlight Villa, GA. Dhaandhoo
• Looth Ibrahim, 29, Furusathu, GDh. Vaadhoo,
• Ranjini Jeevananthan, 38, Malaysia

Ranjini was arrested from the Velana International Airport (VIA), while the two Maldivian suspects were arrested from Male’ City.

When presented at the Criminal Court on Sunday for their remand hearing, Ranjini and Looth were remanded in police custody for 15 days, while Rishmah was remanded for five.

The confirmation of the arrests come a day after Maldives Customs Service announced the interception of 2.2 kilos of heroin from a passenger who flew into the Maldives on Friday.

The estimated street value of the drugs is MVR 2.2 million.

The case is under further investigation by the police.