Alleged drug kingpins from Fuvahmulah back in jail pending trial’s end

The two people accused of running a large-scale drug trafficking network in Fuvahmulah City have been put back in jail pending the outcome of their trial.

Ahmed Niushad, 35, and Hassan Azim, 30, both from the Dhoodigan district of Fuvahmulah, were initially arrested back on December 9, 2024. The duo was initially remanded in trial pending the outcome of trial by the Fuvahmulah Magistrate Court, but walked free on January 9, 2025, after the High Court overturned their detention upon appeal.

On March 18, 2025, the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) charged them with being part of a criminal organization and money laundering.

Niushad and Azim were rearrested by the police on Monday, citing risks they may engage in witness tampering.

The court ordered for them to be held in jail pending the outcome of their trial when presented before a judge on Tuesday.

During the investigation into the case, the police traced over MVR 21 million in transactions via Niushad’s bank account over the course of five years, and over MVR 7 million in transactions via Azim’s account over the course of two years.