13 kg drugs: 1 confesses; remand extended for 6
"It appears that the alleged crime was committed by a well-planned network," the court order of the six accused said.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Criminal Court on Saturday extended the remand of six persons arrested in a drug operation conducted by the police on 17 November. One of the six accused confessed before the court that the seized drugs and the money recovered were his belongings.
Police's Counter Narcotics Intelligence and Drug Enforcement Department (DED) raided two houses in Male and a guesthouse in Hulhumale and recovered 13 kilograms of drugs and more than MVR 600,000 in cash.
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Six persons were arrested in connection with the case and detained for 15 days
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The court again ordered an extension of 25-30 days in remand; the man who confessed was detained till trial
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All the six accused are accused of smuggling, abusing and peddling drugs
Out of the six arrested in the case, Mohamed Adheem Ahmed, Male Dhaftharu no. 1117, had confessed to the crime. 30-year-old Adheem told the detention court that the drugs and money recovered in the case were his belongings.
The police requested the court to keep Adheem under house arrest till the end of the trial. Judge Saffath Habib ordered that Adheem be kept in judicial custody till the end of the trial as requested by the police.
Along with Adheem, the rest arrested in the case are:
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Four residents of Addu
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One from G Dh. Hoadedhdhoo
The police had requested the court to keep the remaining five under house arrest till the end of the trial. The police, however, pointed out that there was still a lot to be clarified in the investigation. It is clear from the order that the statements of the five persons have not been recorded. Judge Saffath, therefore, ordered that the remaining be detained for 25-30 days.
Their ages and detention are as follows:
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28-year-old man - 25 days
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36-year-old man - 30 days
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37-year-old man - 25 days
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39-year-old man - 30 days
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47-year-old man - 30 days
'Organised drug network'
The court order of the six accused revealed that the police raids led to the recovery of drugs and devices used for drug trafficking from the places raided. These include:
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A device used to pack drugs
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Cellophane
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Scales
"It appears that the alleged crime was committed by a well-planned network," the court order of the six accused said.
The 28-year-old, who was detained for 25 days in connection with the case, told the court that he had been found at the search site by pure coincidence. He had stopped there and the police arrested him, he said, as well asthe drugs recovered and the place had nothing to do with him.
