3 more from Abucha’s drug trafficking ring jailed pending outcome of trial

Combined photos of (from L-R ) Hussain Simah, Hood Latheef, and Hassan Amir. (Photo/Maldives Police Service)

Three more suspects believed to be involved in a drug trafficking ring headed by alleged local drug kingpin Abdulla Ibrahim (Abucha), arrested in a counter-narcotics operation in Addu City, have been ordered to jail pending the outcome of their trial.

Maldives Police Service released the identities of five suspects arrested in the operation on Saturday, all of whom have been ordered to jail pending the outcome of their trial.

The three new suspects ordered to jail pending the outcome of their trials are:

Hassan Amir, 25, Finifaru, S. Hithadhoo
Hood Latheef, 24, Bluebird, S. Hithadhoo
Hussain Simah, 27, Mandhoobuge, S. Hithadhoo

According to the police, Hood was arrested on Wednesday, October 7, and ordered to jail pending the outcome of their trial when brought before the court for his remand hearing, while Amir and Simah were ordered to jail pending the outcome of their trial when presented before the court for their remand hearing on Friday, October 9.

Combined photos of (from L-R) Abdulla Ibrahim (Abucha) and Mohamed Yameen Naseer. (Photo/Maldives Police Service)

Abucha, 33, Finifaru, S. Hithadhoo, and an additional suspect - Mohamed Yameen Naseer, 23, Koalhi, S. Hithadhoo – were ordered to jail pending the outcome of their trial on Sunday, October 4.

The operation, a multi-departmental collaboration between the Drug Enforcement Department (DED), Drugs Intelligence Unit, Divisional Intelligence Department, Marine Police, and South Police Division, was launched on Thursday, October 1, based on an intelligence report of an attempt to smuggle in drugs into Maldives via sea by a group of locals led by Abucha, in collaboration with a trafficking network from Pakistan.

The police have made 16 arrests in the operation, and have seized approximately 98.6 kilos of drugs so far, including heroin, MDMA, and amphetamines.