Customs deny responsibility for missing drugs
"So far, the luggage has not been identified in CCTV footage from Velana International Airport."
By
Aishath Fareeha Abdulla
The 46kg of drugs that went missing from Velana International Airport (VIA) were not in the custody of Customs officials, the agency said Tuesday.
Police have launched a probe into the disappearance of two boxes containing a large quantity of drugs smuggled into the country by air from via VIA. A police source confirmed to Atoll Times that even if the customs arrested them and handed them over to the police, the two luggage had gone missing.
The police officially said on Monday that when the customs handed over a suspect in the smuggling of drugs to the police, they did not hand over the 30 kg luggage that he was believed to have brought.
"We assure you that no drugs seized so far will be kept in the custody of the Customs," the customs said in a statement.
The customs noted that the intelligence inputs received by the agency through the surveillance system, suspicious searches and seized drugs are tested in the first phase and the passenger involved is handed over to the police. It added that every time a search is carried out on the basis of intelligence inputs received by the agency, are not instances where drugs or illegal objects are found.
However, based on the information received, the searches are being carried out by the customs officers on a daily basis unperterbed, it said.
Officially announcing the disappearance of a suitcase on 8 January, the police said on Tuesday:
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Drugs were allegedly smuggled in the luggage of a Pakistani
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Customs handed over the man to the police, but the luggage was not handed over
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The accused has now been released due to lack of evidence
"When he arrived, he brought an additional 30 kg of luggage and informed the police that he did not know who had taken it," the police message said.
"So far, the luggage has not been identified in CCTV footage from Velana International Airport."
It has been brought to note that there are no cameras at some important locations at the country's main airport.
"We will not tolerate any attempt by anyone to interfere with the discharge of its legally mandated responsibility to maintain the country's borders," the customs statement said. "We strongly condemn this and will continue to fight against the smuggling of drugs into the Maldives," the customs said in a statement.
