
No evidence ammunition was smuggled with criminal intent, say police
The individual, who entered the country on a tourist visa, was discovered with bullets while en route to VIA on the night of 4 April.
Police have stated that there is no evidence to suggest that a foreign national found in possession of ammunition earlier this month brought it into the Maldives with the intent to commit a crime.
The individual, who entered the country on a tourist visa, was discovered with bullets while en route to Velana International Airport (VIA) on the night of 4 April. He was arrested and subsequently remanded in custody for six days.
A police spokesperson said the man was released from police custody and handed over to the Maldives Immigration on 10 April.
“As far as the investigation is concerned, there is no evidence that it was smuggled with intent to commit a crime and the person was handed over to Immigration on 10 April for necessary action under the Immigration Act,” the spokesperson said.
Maldives Immigration has not provided a comment on the matter or clarified what action was taken against the individual. However, Atoll Times understands that he was deported on Saturday.
Authorities have not disclosed how the ammunition entered the country. A similar incident occurred in July 2021 when a foreign national was arrested in possession of ammunition. At the time, Immigration authorities confirmed that the individual was later deported.