A 32-year-old Maldivian woman has been remanded in custody for 30 days after the Criminal Court found substantial evidence linking her to the importation and trafficking of narcotics into the Maldives.
According to a court order issued on April 30, Aminath Shafaq, of M.A. Morning View in Malé, was detained after police uncovered 31 grams of suspected cocaine concealed on her body. The remand period began at 17:20 on April 30 and will run until May 30.
Court documents state that an X-ray screening initially detected a concealed foreign object in the groin area. During questioning, Shafaq admitted the substance was cocaine. Investigators also carried out a controlled delivery operation, which revealed communication between her and the intended recipient of the drugs.
During a subsequent search, officers discovered a plastic bag containing 30 rubber packets of suspected narcotics hidden inside sanitary pads worn by the suspect, positioned between her body and clothing. The seized substances weighed approximately 31 grams.
The court ruled that the evidence presented met the threshold required to suspect her involvement in serious drug offences. Citing Article 49 of the Constitution and provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act, the court determined that releasing the suspect would pose a risk to public safety.
Presiding Judge Safath Habeeb ordered her detention in custodial jail as the investigation continues.
The court also noted submissions from both the suspect and her legal counsel regarding underlying psychological conditions, recommending close monitoring of her mental health during detention.
Drug trafficking remains a persistent threat in the Maldives, with authorities stepping up efforts to dismantle networks attempting to smuggle narcotics into the country.
