Court orders release of MPS staff arrested in drug case

Criminal Court has ordered the release of an administrative employee at Maldives Police Service who was detained by the authorities for drug trafficking.

The employee, identified as a 29-year-old male, was arrested from the Velana International Airport on March 4 attempting to smuggle narcotics to Maldives from Sri Lanka.

Another suspect, identified as a 26-year-old male of Indian nationality, was arrested on the same date attempting to smuggle narcotics into Maldives from India.

Criminal Court ordered the both suspects to 7 days in police custody on March 5.

The suspects were taken to the court again last Monday to renew their remand.

Maldives Police Service confirms the MPS employee has been released from custody, while the remand of the Indian man has been extended to five more days.

MPS reports it plans on appealing the court’s decision through the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Authorities found 1,419 grams of hashish oil and 529 grams of heroin from the luggage of the MPS employee; and 998 grams of drugs (with packing) from the luggage of the Indian man.