Drug money laundering case: 18-year prison sentence, MVR 200,000 fine for fifth suspect

The fifth suspect in the landmark case where money laundering charges were pressed in a drug trafficking case has been sentenced to 18 years in prison and fined by MVR 200,000.

Five people were arrested on suspicion of smuggling drugs into the Maldives and its use and trafficking in connection with the large amounts of drugs seized during counter-narcotic operation conducted on January 12, 2021. As part of the operation, four houses in Malé were searched.

Four of the five people were charged with diamorphine trafficking and money laundering: Ismail Shareef, White Rose, Th. Thimarafushi, Shaaniya Ibrahim, Ma. Haslath, Hassan Rashee, Hulhumale’ Flat No: 45-G-01 and Hassan Looth, Rangal, GDh. Thinadhoo.

The fifth person – Mohamed Aflaah Abdulla, Suvaasaage, Lh. Hinnavaru – was charged with participation in diamorphine trafficking.

All except Aflaah were sentenced to life imprisonment last year. In this regard, the Criminal Court also ruled in October 2024 that the funds obtained by the four individuals through criminal activities be confiscated by the state.

Meanwhile, Aflaah was sentenced to 18 years in prison last week. He was also fined by MVR 200,000 which has to be paid within one year.

Prior to this, Aflaah was sentenced to prison for three years in two separate drug-related cases.

During the search of Looth’s residence, police found MVR 1,466,000 in three separate bags. At the guesthouse where Ismail Shareef and Shaaniya were arrested, drugs were discovered along with MVR 68,856 in Shareef’s wallet and a bag. Additionally, police seized MVR 7,800 that was handed to Shareef by an individual during the operation.

Looth was fined MVR 2 million, while Hassan Rasheed received a fine of MVR 1 million. Both Shaaniya and Shareef were each fined MVR 500,000.

This case marks the first in the Maldives where suspects involved in a drug trafficking case were charged with money laundering.