Alleged drug kingpin Shaheeb jailed pending outcome of trial

The High Court has ordered for People’s National Congress (PNC) councilman Shaheeb Ibrahim, who the police believe to be one of the ringleaders of a large-scale drug trafficking network, to be kept jailed pending the outcome of his trial.

Shaheeb, 42, Lighthouse, G. A. Vilingili, was arrested in connection to drug bust in October, in which the police discovered a 130 kilo drug shipment from a fishing boat in the lagoon of suburban Hulhumale’.

He was released by the Criminal Court 14 days after his arrest, citing lack of sufficient evidence.

His release was appealed by the State with the High Court.

The High Court announced its decision this Wednesday, ordering for Shaheeb to be detained in a custodial jail pending the outcome of his trial.

The decision was made with the unanimous consensus of all three judges who looked into the appeal; Judge Shuaib Hussain Zakariyya, Judge Abdulla Hameed, and Judge Mohamed Faisal.

Shaheeb, who had serves as a coordinator at the Ministry of Youth and Sports during the former administration, was suspended from PNC’s council following his arrest.

The police made seven arrests in connection to the drug bust; local men aged between 25-48 years, and one minor.

 They released the identities of two they believe to be the ringleaders of the drug trafficking network; Shaheeb and Ahmed Moosa, 48, Violet Villa, H. A. Hoarafushi.

According to the police, the drugs seized in the operation were smuggled into Maldives via sea in collaboration with an international trafficking network.

The drugs seized in the operation include heroin and methamphetamine.

The police also believe Shaheeb to be linked to the drugs seized from an Iranian boat off A. Dh. Himadhoo in November last year.

Shaheeb later took over the ownership of the Iranian boat. Sun has been able to confirm through multiple credible sources that the boat is now at the boatyard in K. Hinmafushi, being converted to a safari vessel.