Indian authorities have arrested a fourth Maldivian in connection to a major drug bust in Tiruvananthapuram last month, media reports have said.
According to India's 'The New Indian Express', the fourth suspect has been identified as 22 year old Amhar Rashyd who was studying for a degree course in the Indian city.
The other three arrested last month were identified as Shanees Mahir, 27, Ayman Ahmed, 24 and Ibrahim Fauzen Salih, 29.
According to India media sources, the trio were arrested in Kerala with 17 kg hashish oil worth over USD700,000 intended for overseas markets.
Shanees is reportedly a notorious drug dealer who has been hunted by various international anti-drug agencies. He is also accused of being engaged in transhipment and mid-sea transactions for carrying out the illegal activities. His accomplices also have connections across the international drug market.
Amhar was arrested after the other three confessed to his involvement during an interrogation, the newspaper report said.
Police sources said Amhar was a member of the international racket and was instrumental in purchasing the contraband from Kerala-based sellers.
He has reportedly been staying in India for the last five years as a paying guest at Palkulangara where the narcotics was kept before being handed over to the trio, who were planning to smuggle it to the Maldives in vegetable oil cans.
