Maldivian Sentenced to 18 Years for Aiding Nigerian Drug Smuggler

The Criminal Court has sentenced a Maldivian man to 18 years in prison for assisting a Nigerian national who smuggled 1.2 kilograms of drugs into the country. The convict, M. Idala Alif Waheed, was found guilty of aiding the importation of narcotics under Schedule 1. According to the state's case, Alif paid for the hotel booking for the Nigerian's stay and monitored his activities at Velana International Airport. The court's judgment, delivered last Tuesday, noted that evidence showed Alif paid for the hotel booking from his account and was involved in monitoring and evading scrutiny of the individual's activities upon arrival. The court stated that it was proven the act was committed with knowledge that the person was importing narcotics. Alif was also fined MVR 75,000, payable to the state within one year, with time already served in custody to be deducted.