Policeman in 24kg drug case transferred funds: Police

Police have revealed that the police officer arrested over the import of 24 kilograms of heroin to Maldives last month was the courier who transferred funds to their contact in the Republic of Iran.

Fourteen foreigners, consisting of three Bangladeshis and eleven Pakistanis, along with four Maldivians were arrested on 10 and 11 March.

Details of the operation were recently revealed in a special edition Police Life magazine. Explaining the operation, police stated that two locals directly involved in the transaction of the drugs were arrested on the night of 10 March, while they were in possession of the fiberglass dinghy where the heroin was concealed. The police officer, who acted as courier, was arrested on the following day.

The exchange of drugs took place in about 30 nautical miles off Alifu Alifu Mathiveri, the middle of the sea. The Iranian vessel had handed over the dinghy over to the Maldivian vessel named Violet. After the transfer, the locals waited near the foreign vessel until nightfall to returning to the capital Male’. The locals lowered the dinghy into the Hulhumale’ harbour during the night of 10 March.

The two Maldivian men had placed a phone call to their agent in Iran around 5:00 p.m. on the day of the transfer and reported that they had met the vessel and that everything was going according to plan.

Prior to their departure to meet the Iranian vessel, Police followed the two locals, as they made their way on the local ferry to Vilimale’ around 3:15 p.m. By the time they arrived at their local transfer, the vessel’s captain and crew were prepared to make the trip. The vessel left Vilimale’ harbour around 3:30 p.m. and travelled towards Alif Alif atoll to the west of Male’. The boat was also followed by the team of officers in a small speedboat, revealed the police.

Police earlier said that 24 kgs of heroin would have an estimated street value of MVR 36 million in the Maldives, and if sold with added powder, the street value could reach a staggering MVR 100 million.