Court Extends Remand of Three Bangladeshis Arrested With 826 Liquor Bottles in Malé

The Criminal Court has extended the remand of three Bangladeshi nationals arrested after police searched a house in Henveyru as part of an operation targeting a wide-ranging alcohol-selling network in Malé. Police’s Counter Narcotics Intelligence and Drug Enforcement conducted the special operation and seized a total of 826 bottles of alcohol. The three arrested in connection with the case are Al Amin, 34, Polin, 43, and M.D. Rakib Hossen, 25, all Bangladeshi nationals. When they were taken to the Criminal Court to decide their remand, Al Amin and Polin were ordered to be detained for five days. M.D. Rakib Hossen was remanded for 15 days. According to the court order, Al Amin was remanded for five days after his lawyer said he had not been given the opportunity to meet and speak with him. During the operation, the bottles of alcohol were found openly placed in various parts of a store room. Some bottles were sealed in boxes, and the boxes had the names of various alcohol brands written on them. Police said the operation was aimed at stopping a network that was illegally selling and supplying alcohol in Malé. The case is under further investigation. Recently, police and immigration have been conducting strong operations to find foreigners who violate regulations and are involved in drug networks.