Two Nepalese drug mules remanded after 53 bullets recovered from their bodies

Two Nepalese nationals have been remanded in custody for 30 days over allegations of smuggling drugs into Maldives by swallowing bullets.

The suspects, Nikka Tamang, 47, and Ethrani Gale, 40, were arrested after authorities recovered 53 drug bullets, weighing a total of 650 grams, from their bodies.

The case was submitted to the Criminal Court for an initial remand hearing, which was conducted in their absence, resulting in a three-day remand. When the pair were later produced before the court, Judge Abdullah Sabeeh ordered their remand extended to 30 days.

Both are accused of smuggling drugs into Maldives, a method increasingly seen among foreign couriers in recent months.

Maldives has witnessed a rise in cases involving foreigners transporting drugs internally. To curb such offences, amendments to the Narcotics Act now allow the death penalty for smuggling certain quantities of drugs, subject to the consensus of Supreme Court judges.