The Criminal Court has sentenced six people to life in prison in connection with the 130 kilograms of narcotics found on a boat in Hulhumale' lagoon.
The prosecution charged six people in connection with the drugs seized from the "Jumbo" boat. They are:
- Shaheeb Ibrahim from Gaaf Alif Villingili
- Ahmed Moosa from Haa Alif Hoarafushi
- Aseel Mahir from Gaaf Alif Villingili
- Anas Hussain from Lhaviyani Hinnavaru
- Iqbal from Bangladesh
- Mohamed Riyad from Bangladesh
All six were convicted of trafficking dimorphine into the country and importing schedule 1 drugs and sentenced to 50 years in prison.
Anas Hussain and Aseel Mahir were sentenced to an additional three years in jail each for a conviction of cannabis use.
Mohamed Riyad got an additional sentence of 12 months and 12 days in prison for possession of alcohol without a license.
Police accused Shaheeb Ibrahim of being the owner of the drugs found on "Jumbo" boat. He was also involved in the Iranian vessel seized off Maldivian waters on suspicion of smuggling drugs.
Shaheeb was released from custody two years ago on condition that he appear in court for hearings.
He was detained last week when he appeared at the police headquarters after police began looking for him after failing to appear in court.
Shaheeb went to the police headquarters after police detained his wife, Aishath Waheeda, 47, with a court warrant.
According to the court order, Waheeda is accused of helping hide her husband from law enforcement authorities.
Police also charged her with obstruction of justice, destruction of evidence and attempting to conceal evidence. Only an intelligence report was submitted to support these allegations.
Adhadhu understands that the police decided to arrest Waheeda after its intelligence unit failed to locate Shaheeb.
