Police recover 24 liquor bottles at Kanneli Jetty; two men remanded

A 32-year-old man has been remanded in custody for 15 days after confessing to owning 24 bottles of liquor.

The suspects were identified as Mohamed Mubarik, 32, of Rani Villa/Lh. Naifaru, and Hassan Gasim, 23, of Sailuge/Lh. Naifaru.

Police said the two were arrested while patrolling the Kanneli Jetty area in Hulhumale' last Friday night. Officers stopped them due to their behaviour, searched the area and their belongings, and recovered 24 bottles of liquor.

The Criminal Court ordered 15 days of remand for Mubarik and five days for Hassan Gasim.

Police are investigating the case.

According to the court order, both men were arrested on suspicion of possession and use of alcohol. The order states that some evidence has been submitted to charge Hassan Gasim, while sufficient evidence has been submitted to charge Mubarik.

In court, Hassan Gasim’s lawyer said the bottles had “nothing to do with” him, and that Mubarik had confessed that the liquor belonged to him.

The court ordered the arrests in accordance with procedure.

Liquor-related offences remain common in the Maldives, with most arrests occurring in Hulhumale'.