A 19-year-old man was arrested on Friday after being found in possession of over one kilogram of drugs at a restaurant in Malé City. The arrest was made following a targeted operation by the Maldives Police Service, based on intelligence gathered by the Counter-Narcotics Intelligence unit.
The suspect, identified as Mohamed Kiyan Ahmed Nazim from Ma. Hiythalavilla, K. Male’, was apprehended at the restaurant, where police discovered the drugs during a search of his person. The drugs, which have not yet been identified publicly, were seized as evidence.
Kiyan was brought before the Criminal Court on Saturday, where he was remanded into police custody for 15 days. The arrest and subsequent investigation were carried out by the Gang Crime Enforcement unit, with support from the Drug Enforcement team.
The police have stated that the investigation is ongoing as they continue to gather details surrounding the case. Authorities have not disclosed whether Kiyan has any prior criminal history or if there were other individuals involved in the drug operation.
This arrest comes as part of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to tackle drug trafficking and abuse in the Maldives, with the police pledging to take further action against illegal drug activities.