Five suspects arrested in connection with the seizure of 468.6 kilograms of drugs from a Sri Lankan fishing vessel have been remanded in custody for 30 days.
The MNDF Coast Guard intercepted the boat near HDh. Makunudhoo on November 23, and the crew and vessel were taken to Kulhudhuffushi Port the following day.
The suspects are Rajpaksha Gemage Denusha Madmal (21), Muttima Patabindige Amishk Sanjeeva Kumar (22), Chamod Diwanga Dilakava (22), Vijeveera Gunaratna Mahavidoma (37) and Lawrence Hevagi Sarath (56). On Tuesday, the five were taken to HDh. Magistrate Court to decide on their remand, where they were ordered to be held in a custodial jail for a 30-day period.
Preliminary tests show the drug haul included 344kg of methamphetamine and 124.6kg of cocaine. The street value of the drugs is estimated at MVR 1 billion. As the case is still under investigation, it is currently unclear if the drugs are linked to any Maldivian networks.
