Indian couple’s remand extended in 2.05-kilo heroin case

The Criminal Court on Saturday extended the remand of an Indian couple were detained from the Maldives national airport last week after authorities found 2.05 kilos of heroin.

The married couple - Mohamed Shoib, 41, and Aisha, 38, arrived in Male’ from Kuala Lumpur on a Malaysian Airlines flight on October 15.

Customs officials suspected they might be carrying drugs, and conducted an X-ray of their luggage. They found a false bottom in a piece of luggage registered in Aisha’s name. Inside the false bottom was a rubber packet containing 2.05 kilos of heroin.

The street value of the drugs is estimated to be MVR 2,050,000.

Aisha and Shoib were initially remanded for three days, and were presented before the Criminal Court for an extension to their remand on Saturday.

The court ordered for both to be remanded in custody of the police for an additional 15 days.

Aisha and Shoib communicated with the assistance of a translator.

They told the court that the piece of luggage wasn’t their own, but was given to them by someone else. They also claimed the luggage was empty when it was given to them, and that they weren’t aware there was anything concealed in it or had a false bottom.

The investigative officer told the court that they had asked for a public defender. He said that the police have filled out the forms and will file the paperwork with the Attorney General’s Office on Sunday.

The judge instructed for the police to present them before the court once a public defender is assigned to them.