Search begins at uninhabited island in Raa Atoll for weapons

In an effort to find the rest of the weapons cache discovered inn Baa Atoll Hibalhidhoo last year, a search has been initiated at Fenfushi, an uninhabited island in Raa Atoll.

Information Officer of the police, Ismail Ali told Sun Media that the Police began a search of the island on Wednesday as part of the investigation into the explosion on board the Presidential Launch.

Fenfushi is being searched under a court order issued on Wednesday which says that it is in relation to case that says the rest of the weapons cache found in Hibalhidhoo is in Fenfushi.

Hibalhidhoo was searched under court order on 28 October 2015 and the police found a number of firearms hidden under water in the island’s lagoon.

The firearms found included an AK56 assault rifle, an MP5 submachine gun, high power pistol, a sniper rifle with the scope and ammunition, two hand grenades along with plastic explosive charges and the ingredients to make a powerful bomb with and Improvised Explosive Device) IED.

Four people were arrested and charged in relation to the weapons found on the island including the former Vice President, Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Gafoor. The others that were arrested include then Head of the MNDF Ordnance, Ahmed Fayaz Ali Riza (Papa), the former member of the FAM Normalization Committee, Mohamed Hussain (Oittey) along with Ahmed Ishfahu Ali and Mohamed Allaam Latheef.