Two airport staff arrested for drug smuggling attempt
Last year, police had been looking into the disappearance of two suitcases containing drugs from the airport.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Two Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) employees have been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle luggage containing drugs out of Velana International Airport, police said on Saturday evening.
The employee accused of masterminding the attempt was released by the court on Saturday.
An incident from last month, Atoll Times pushed for an update on the issue in the police media group on Saturday evening, and police revealed the information.
According to the police spokesperson’s response in the group:
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The luggage, which was smuggled out of the airport on 15th last month, contained more than 4.5 kg of heroin and meth
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Two MACL employees have been arrested for trying to remove the luggage from Velana International Airport
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The man who went to receive the luggage and a Pakistani man were also arrested in the case
“A senior MACL employee, the most senior person involved in the case, has been released after being taken for extension of custody today [Saturday],” the official said when asked whether anyone had been released in the case.
He was released on conditions despite the existence of "some evidence," the official added.
It is learned that the luggage was brought by the Pakistani man when he arrived in Maldives. When asked about it, the official said, "This is a major criminal investigation”.
"And this is being taken very seriously as there are a lot of employees involved; that's the only information that can be shared at the moment," he said.
A similar case emerged earlier last year, which was investigated by the police as well. At that time, the police had been looking into the disappearance of two suitcases containing drugs from the airport.
