72-year-old man arrested over alleged attempt to smuggle drugs into Fuvahmulah

A 72-year-old Fuvamulah native has been arrested on suspicion of attempting to smuggle drugs into the city.

The Police said Mohamed Moosa, 72, Elina, Funaadu, Fuvahmulah City, was arrested during an operation carried out based on a tip received informing of an attempt to smuggle drugs into Fuvahmulah via a boat that travels between the city and Male’.

The Police detailed that Mohamed Moosa was stopped and searched on a street in Fuvahmulah, where officers discovered a rubber packet containing substances suspected to be drugs. The preliminary weight of the seized items was estimated at 50.35 kilograms.          

Another arrest was made in Fuvahmulah on Wednesday in a drug-related case.

In this regard, Hussain Saif, 33, Nirihaa, Miskiy Magu, Fuvahmulah City, was arrested during an operation carried out on Wednesday.

The Police detailed that 19 rubber packets containing substances suspected to be drugs were seized when Saif was stopped and searched.

Mohamed Moosa has been remanded in custody for five days, while Saif has been remanded in custody for 15 days.

Both cases are under further investigation, the Police added.

Drugs remain one of the most pertinent social issues in the Maldives and one of the most reported crimes. In this regard, 193 drug-related cases have been reported so far this year alone.