One of the suspects charged over 119kg of drugs seized in a special operation conducted by police two years ago was found guilty and sentenced to 25 years in prison last Wednesday.
Ali Zubair, from Gaaf Duaal Hoadedhdhoo, was convicted on drug trafficking charges.
His co-defendants Ahmed Sunaidh and Ahmed Mujahid, both of whom were also from Hoadedhdhooo, were found not guilty.
According to the Criminal Court’s verdict, the drugs were found under the seat of Zubair’s motorcycle. But as he was the only one present when the search was carried out, the drugs could not be tied to the other suspects since the search did not take place in their presence, the verdict stated.
The prosecution also failed to prove how drugs found in a car and pickup could be tied to suspects other than Zubair, the judge said.
The car belonged to Zubair, he admitted during the trial.
In addition to the 25-year jail term, Zubair was also fined MVR 100,000.
Alora Arushad Khalid, an alleged drug kingpin, is accused by police as the principal actor in smuggling and planning to sell the drugs seized in the case. Arushad was in Sri Lanka when the drugs were seized. He was arrested upon his return to Male’ but released later due to lack of evidence to keep him detained.
