Charges filed against 8 involved in drug trafficking network

The Prosecutor General’s Office, on Tuesday, announced that charges have been filed against eight of the nine people held in connection to a major drug operation run by the Drug Enforcement Department (DED) in collaboration with the Police Intel on January 30.

The operation involved raids of 10 properties in Male’ City, which uncovered over nine kilos of diamorphine (heroin), over four grams of cocaine, paraphernalia used to pack the drugs and ready it for distribution, and cash - believed to be made from sale of the drugs.

The police, under court order, also froze the accounts of nine people held in connection to the case. The sum total of the frozen money amounts to MVR 4.6 million.

The nine suspects arrested in connection to the case are:

• Arshad Khalid, 24, Allora, G. Dh. Hoadedhdhoo
• Ali Zubair, 50, Guleynooranmaage, G. Dh. Hoadedhdhoo
• Ahmed Sunain, 23, Irumatheege, G. Dh. Hoadedhdhoo
• Hussain Zaheen, 25, Matharasmaage, L. Kalaidhoo
• Ismail Vishal, 25, M. Dhaarulgaraaru, Male’
• Aslam Nazim, 37, Ma. Violetmaage, Male’
• Ahmed Imsah, 32, Miskiydhoshuge, Lh. Naifaru
• Mohamed Sidhurath, 27, Surayyaa Manzil, G. A. Gemanafushi
• Ahmed Giyas, 25, Madrithouse, G. Dh. Hoadedhdhoo

The Prosecutor General’s Office, this Tuesday, announced that charges have been pressed with the Criminal Court against all suspect, with the exception of Mohamed Sidhurath.

• Arshad Khalid: diamorphine trafficking
• Ali Zubair: diamorphine trafficking, trafficking of a drug listed on Appendix 1
• Ahmed Sunain: diamorphine trafficking, consumption of a drug listed on Appendix 1
• Hussain Zaheen: diamorphine trafficking
• Ismail Vishal: Accessory to diamorphine trafficking, consumption of cannabis
• Aslam Nazim: diamorphine trafficking
• Ahmed Imsah: Accessory to diamorphine trafficking
• Ahmed Giyas: Accessory to diamorphine trafficking

The Prosecutor General’s Office has also filed a motion to recover MVR 9,797,702, which includes MVR 1,535,110 and USD 146,731, believed to be profits from the sale of drugs, to the State under Section 158 (a) of Drugs Act, in reference to Section 160 of Drugs Act.

Maldives Police Service previously disclosed that it believed Arshad Khalid to be the head of the drug trafficking network. He was released from police custody by the Criminal Court on Monday. A hearing to review the decision is scheduled at the court at 3 pm this Tuesday.