Two arrested for suspected involvement in large-scale drug sales in Fuvahmulah

Maldives Police Service, on Tuesday, has announced the arrest of two individuals suspected of playing a significant role in drug sales and money laundering in Fuvahmulah City.

The two were arrested based on a tip received to Police Intelligence on suspicions of involvement in drug sales and money laundering under a crime network.

Police identified the suspects arrested under a court order Monday as Ahmed Niushadh, 34, Karanka Villa, Dhoodigan, Gn. Fuvahmulah and Hassan Azim, 29, Zamaaneege, Dhoodigan, Gn. Fuvahmulah.

Investigations by the Police show that transactions spanning over MVR 21 million were conducted via Naushad’s bank account over the past five years while transactions spanning over MVR 7 million were conducted via Azim's bank account over the past two years. 

Police noted that they have currently seized the bank accounts of 21 people and two companies in connection to this case and in this trajectory, are conducting a money laundering investigation.

Police launched a counter-narcotics operation under the name ‘Operation Veshi Rakkal’ in Fuvahmulah City on January 14^th.

Under this operation, Police has searched 4,048 hotspots, stopped and searched 1,147 people and arrested 85 suspects.  They have also completed the investigation into 75 cases involving the arrestees, of which 65 cases have been forwarded to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Police said the efforts undertaken under this operation so far and the investigations conducted have helped them identify individuals heading drug sales and money laundering in Fuvahmulah City.

The authority extended gratitude for cooperation rendered for this operation by relevant authorities and Fuvahmulah City residents.