PG says no evidence of intent in undergarment-concealment drug case

The Prosecutor General’s Office (PG Office) has decided to withdraw drug trafficking charges against a woman who was found with drugs concealed inside her undergarments, citing the lack of strong evidence to prove her criminal intent.

A PG Office spokesperson told Sun that charges are not automatically withdrawn simply because another person takes responsibility for items found in someone else’s possession. However, he said there are exceptional situations where such decisions are taken based on the circumstances of individual cases.

According to the prosecution, the woman may have acted suddenly to hide the items when police appeared, possibly attempting to protect her husband. The PG Office said there was no clear evidence that she knew what the substance was or that she intended to traffic drugs. The woman also has no prior criminal record.

In contrast, the male suspect has a history of drug-related offences and was known to have used narcotics in the past, the official said. With the husband confessing ownership of the drugs found on the woman, the prosecution said it had no interest in pursuing further charges against her.

The case was filed on November 18, 2024, following a Laamu Atoll police operation in which a woman from HA. Hoarafushi and a man from L. Maavah were arrested. During the search, officers found 9.2 grams of cocaine taped to a pad inside the woman’s undergarments. The trial was conducted at the L. Fonadhoo Magistrate Court, where the man admitted the drugs belonged to him.

The court subsequently withdrew the trafficking charges against the woman. The man was convicted of trafficking narcotics and using cannabis, receiving a combined sentence of more than 13 years in prison and a MVR 50,000 fine under a plea agreement with the state.

In recent years, several narcotics cases involving drugs concealed in undergarments of women have caused public confusion due to overlapping details. The November 2024 case involving cocaine hidden inside the woman’s undergarments is separate from other incidents often misreported alongside it. 

These include a June 2024 case where a woman was arrested with heroin and methamphetamine hidden in her bra, and a May 2026 case in which cocaine was found concealed inside sanitary pads. Although all three involved body concealment, they are distinct investigations with different suspects, substances and outcomes, a mix-up that has led to repeated public misunderstanding whenever similar cases surface.