The Prosecutor General's (PG) Office has recommended the release of six suspects arrested in connection with drug trafficking and money laundering in Addu city.

The PG Office said the police could not find sufficient evidence to prove their involvement in a criminal organisation or in money laundering when the statutory deadline for investigation ended.

"The investigation period in this case has been extended on several occasions up to the maximum period permitted by law. However, during that period, the investigation has not been adequately completed, and sufficient evidence has not been obtained," the PG Office stated.

The PG Office added that police were advised to file a request for re-prosecution under the Criminal Procedure Code if they can find additional evidence through ongoing investigations.

The suspects

• 30-year-old Ali Nadeem
• 31-year-old Hafiz Fauzee
• 43-year-old Ibrahim Siraj
• 28-year-old Hassan Alfaf
• 23-year-old Ameen Mohamed
• Zahna Ahmed

According to the police, a drug trafficking and money laundering investigation targeting the leading members of this network was launched in March last year, and it was discovered that the network had been operating since 2017.

"Over the past five years, more than MVR 19 million has been circulated in the accounts of four senior members of the network," police said.