Two siblings arrested last year with 1.2kg of drugs formally charged with trafficking and cannabis use

Two siblings arrested in Male' last year with drugs have now been formally charged.

The pair, Mohamed Aish Ahmed, 31, and Aminath Illiyyin Ahmed, 25, both from Ma. Mazaage, Male' City, was arrested under a court order in September during a joint operation by Counter Narcotics Intelligence and Drug Enforcement.

Prosecutors have filed two charges against each of them:  

• Trafficking a Schedule One drug  

• Use of cannabis

A hearing on the charges is scheduled at the Criminal Court on Monday.

Police previously said the operation also led to the arrest of TVM presenter Inayath Ali, and that the provisional weight of the seized items was 1.246 kilograms. Inayath was initially remanded for seven days before being released on conditions pending trial on October 3, 2025.

Under the Narcotics Act, trafficking a Schedule One drug, or participating in any degree of trafficking, carries a penalty of life imprisonment and a fine between MVR 100,000 and MVR 10 million. Possession of more than four grams of a Schedule One drug is legally considered trafficking.

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

The law allows drug‑dependent offenders to undergo treatment through the Drug Court. Those who complete treatment successfully are not required to serve their prison sentence.