Maldives arrests two Malaysians involved in international drug syndicate

Maldives police have arrested two Malaysian nationals who the authorities believe to be part of an international drug syndicate.

In a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon, the Head of the Drug Enforcement Department, Superintendent Nahid Hussain said they were arrested during an investigation launched following the discovery of drugs from a Malaysian national who flew to Maldives from Malaysia on an Emirates flight on July 27.

In this regard, he detailed that Customs searched Ng Thum Lip, 44, who arrived from the flight after his activities seemed suspicious. Customs reported the case to the Police after finding substances suspected to be drugs in his luggage during their search, he added.

Nahid said the Police subsequently conducted a controlled delivery operation during which they uncovered communications via a WeChat group that confirmed that the drugs were to be collected by an additional individual.

He identified the individual who came to collect the drugs as another Malaysian national, Ko Huan Boon, 41. Nahid said Huan Boon had arrived in the Maldives a day earlier than Thum Lip, adding both of them made reservations at the same hotel.

“We note that the drugs in this case were 13.5 kilos of cannabis. Our investigation into the case uncovered that both of these individuals play a crucial role in trafficking drugs to various countries,” he detailed, adding the drugs were planned to be trafficked into the United Kingdom by these individuals. 

As communications of those involved in the case uncovered at the network were in operation with the participation of a large number of people, Police said the case is being investigated further in collaboration with authorities from the countries of the suspects and Interpol.

Responding to a question by the report, Nahid emphasized that the Police have yet to uncover the involvement of a Maldivian in this case.

Notably, Customs seized drugs from a Maldivian passenger who arrived in the Maldives via a Malaysian Airlines flight on Monday alongside.