Two MACL staff involved in smuggling in more than 4kg drugs

Police have said that two staff of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) were involved in facilitating carrying out of the airport more than 4.5 kg of drugs that were brought into Maldives via air transport.

Providing information through a dedicated media relations whatsapp group, Police said that Criminal Court has since released one of the these two individuals.

Police Spokesperson Ahmed Shifan stated that over 4.5kg of drugs were found in a piece of luggage that was being attempted to be taken out of Velana International Airport against the set guidelines. He revealed that the drugs found were heroin and meth.

Shifan said that four people were arrested in relation to this case: two MACL staff members, a Pakistani individual, the person who went to receive the luggage.

However, Shifan said that when the four had been taken to Criminal Court to extend their remand periods, the court had released who he described as 'the lead perpetrator in the case': the senior MACL staff.

"Although there is some evidence, he has been released under conditions," Shifan said.

In his messages, Shifan said that although at the moment two specific MACL staff members are being highlighted, a large number of other staff are believed to be involved. Due to this, the matter is being investigated thoroughly.

"This is a matter into which a large scale criminal investigation is going into," he stated.

Authorities have begun special collaborative operations to halt the bringing in and sale of illegal drugs and narcotics in the country.