Police arrests alleged local high-profile IS operative

Maldives Police Service, in a joint operation conducted alongside United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and investigative authorities from two European Union (EU) nations, have arrested a Maldivian who is an alleged prominent operative associated with the terrorist organization, Islamic State (IS).

The arrest was revealed by Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed via tweet.

CP Hameed said that the 30-year-old Maldivian man was arrested on January 6, 2022, in Male’ City.

In a joint operation involving the @FBI and authorities from two European Union nations, @PoliceMv arrested a 30 year old Maldivian man in Male’ on 6th Jan 2022. He is alleged of being a prominent operative associated with the proscribed terrorist organisation “Islamic State”.

— Mohamed Hameed (@M_Hameedh) February 23, 2022

Stressing that he is alleged of being a prominent operative associated with IS, CP Hameed said that he is suspected of running IS media campaigns and propagating extremism.

“Running its media campaigns - propagating extremism and more specifically, calling for perpetration of acts of terror on European soil and to harm its leaders. It was found that he had been conducting this activity since 2015 whilst living among us in Maldives,” his tweet detailed.

CP Hameed said that the case is regarded as a major terrorism investigation – which is jointly being conducted by Maldives Police Services, FBI and investigative authorities from two EU nations.

He added that a detailed press statement regarding the case would be released later.

Alleged IS operatives have been previously arrested in the Maldives as well. At present, the Criminal Court is reviewing many cases of individuals who traveled abroad for the purpose of joining the terrorist organization.