Wisam, caught in Bangkok, was previously investigated as ringleader in 72kg Maldives drug bust

Mohamed Wisam, one of the two Maldivian men recently arrested with drugs from the Thai capital Bangkok, was previously investigated by the Maldives police as a ringleader of a local drug trafficking ring involved in smuggling over 72 kilos of narcotics into the country.

Thai news outlets, citing the police, reported on Wednesday that Wisam, 36, and Ali Rashid, 46, were arrested from Bangkok with over 12 kilos of crystal meth and cannabis hidden inside stainless-steel tumblers and wrapped in children’s clothing, after investigators traced several large parcels initially brought to a cargo service in the Pratunam area.

Sun was able to confirm through credible sources that Wisam was one of the suspects arrested back on December 8, 2020 in a major drug operation in the Maldives.

The operation led to the seizure of 72 kilos of drugs smuggled into the Maldives on the fishing vessel ‘Masjaree’. The drugs were intercepted as it was transferred to Male’ on a speedboat and then loaded into the trunk of a car.

The then-28-year-old Wisam was named by the police as a ringleader in the drug network, along with Irfan Thagiyyu.

The state initially charged 10 people in connection to the case, before withdrawing charges against seven, including Wisam. The major drug bust failed to produce a single conviction, as they remaining three suspects were acquitted.