Veymandoo man sentenced to 12 years in prison in drug case

Criminal Court has sentenced Nabeel Ahmed of Canary Villa, Th. Veymandoo, to 12 years and six months in prison and fined him MVR 50,000 after finding him guilty of trafficking more than 100 grams of diamorphine (heroin).

The prosecution charged Nabeel Ahmed with diamorphine trafficking following a court-authorized police raid conducted on April 29, 2023, at approximately 21:53pm. The operation targeted Ground Floor Apartment B of M. Ahmadhee Aabadhu in Malé, based on intelligence indicating that the premises were being used for the consumption, possession, and trafficking of drugs.

Upon entering a room in the apartment, the Police found Nabeel asleep on a bunk bed. A search conducted in his presence uncovered two juice-petty bags containing 100.1610 grams of diamorphine. The drugs were concealed inside a parcel tray placed within a cardboard box, which was positioned on top of a bag near a wardrobe.

During the trial, Nabeel entered into a plea agreement with the Prosecutor General’s Office. He told the court that he was pleading guilty voluntarily and without being subjected to any undue influence. The court subsequently accepted the plea agreement, which was prepared in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Act.

Under the Drugs Act, the standard penalty for trafficking diamorphine is 25 years’ imprisonment and a fine ranging from MVR 100,000 to MVR 10,000,000. However, Nabeel received a reduced sentence in accordance with the terms of the plea agreement.

Of the stipulated 12-year-and-six-month sentence, the court deducted three years, four months, and 26 days that Nabeel had already spent in custody during the investigation and trial. As a result, he is required to serve a remaining prison term of nine years, one month, and four days. The court also ordered him to pay the MVR 50,000 fine to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) within 18 months of the date of sentencing.

The verdict was delivered by Judge Uz. Ibrahim Zihunee.