- Street value at MVR 145 million
- Fourth individual arrested
- 48 hours on sea for operation
Twenty nine kilos of drugs was seized in a special operation conducted by Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) and Maldives Police Service (MPS). The street value of the drugs are estimated at MVR 145 million.
Speaking in a press conference held Iskandhar Koshi today, Assistant Commissioner of Police Abdullah Nawaz said the 29 kilos of drugs were seized in an operation conducted based on information received by Police Intelligence four days ago. Police reported that they had received information that Sadhooh Hussain of M. Raiykokaage was trying to acquire drugs and that he had begun the operation two days prior.
This is the first operation conducted by Police from which a large number of drugs were seized. --The drugs found in a sea area of Ari Atoll amounted to six tons. --
Police said they had additional intelligence information that Sadhooh had attempted to clear the shipment on two days but had failed. Having failed the initial attempt, he had contacted a boat captain, Mohamed Niushad of Aasthaanaa, L. Maamendhoo, about moving the shipment.
"Sadhooh had offered large sums of money to Niushad to carry out the operation. Niushad had hired a boat to carry out the shipment with him as the captain," Nawaz said.
Nawaz said the Police conducted an intensive naval operation lasting 48 hours. Tipped that the boat was heading off to ADh. Atoll, Nawaz said the team had approached the area and searched two out of the three boats sighted there. Upon searching the second vessel Police had brought in the vessel to Dhoonidhoo. At the time, the vessel was just outside of ADh. Atoll but within the country's boundaries.
"Sadooh had tried to reach ADh. atoll by air, but he was not able to get a seat. Then he attempted to go to the atoll from Male' via Thilafushi. They brought in the drugs from outside and entered the sea area of the country," Nawaz said.
"We recieved information that three vessels were in the area. The first vessel was a fishing vessel. When we checked the second vessel, we flagged Niushad for suspicious behavior and took him and the vessel to Dhoonidhoo," Police said.
Drug Enforcement Department (DED) Head Moosa Ali said upon searching the vessel, they discovered a gas cylinder. Twenty-nine packets of drugs were found in the cylinder, measuring 29 kilos.
"The packets tested positive for heroin. Total of 29 kilos [of drugs] were founds in the cylinder," Moosa said.
Sadhooh is currently under arrest, as well as Niushad. Police today revealed that two additional individuals were also arrested in connection to the murder.
Police had confirmed that Sadhooh had records of drugs and theft, including the theft of the safe in Baros Maldives. Police also confirmed that Niushad also had records of violence and drugs.
Police said the drugs had originated from Pakistan and was brought into the country by another Maldivian. Police estimated that the street value of the drugs was at around MVR 145 million.
