Alleged drug kingpin Arshad arrested upon return to Maldives

A young man who the police believe to be a drug kingpin has been arrested upon return to Maldives.

Arshad Khalid, 26, Allora, GDh. Hoadedhdhoo, had been arrested in January 2020 in a counter-drug operation which saw police raid ten properties in Male’ City, and seize nine kilos of heroin and four grams of cocaine, along with MVR 4.6 million in drug money.

Eight people were charged in the case. However, only two of them were convicted, and the other six, including Arshad, were acquitted. The ruling has been appealed with the High Court.

A police spokesperson said Arshad was currently under police custody to enforce a High Court order. He declined to disclose any details.

After his acquittal, Arshad was later implicated in a major counter-drug operation in December 2021 in which the police seized 119 kilos of heroin. In a statement after the raid, police identified Arshad as the leader of the drug trafficking ring.

However, he had fled Maldives before the police made the bust.