Remand of Brazilian traveler arrested with 18 kilos of cocaine extended by 5 days

Criminal Court has extended the remand of a Brazilian traveler who arrived in Maldives carrying over 18 kilos of cocaine by five more days. 

Cristiano Silva Rodridge Jr, 28, arrived in Maldives on a flight from Brazil on November 2. Customs officials found his behavior suspicious, and commenced a search of his luggage. 

They found 18.857 kilos of cocaine inside his luggage. 

Cristiano, who confessed to smuggling the drugs during a previous hearing, told the court on Sunday that the drugs weren't his, and that his confession was coerced. 

However, the court ordered for him to be remanded in custody of the police for five more days. 

The street value of the drugs is estimated to be MVR 94 million.