Youth Arrested in Malé on Suspicion of Drug Dealing with Over MVR 6,000

A 25-year-old Maldivian man was arrested in Malé on suspicion of drug dealing after police found more than MVR 6,000 and suspected drugs in his room. The suspect, a resident of Noalvaranfaru, Hithadhoo, was produced before the Criminal Court today on suspicion of drug use, drug dealing, and drug trafficking. According to the court order, police acted on intelligence that a wanted individual was staying at a guesthouse in Malé. When officers arrived and knocked on the door, the youth opened it. Upon a consented search, officers discovered nine plastic-wrapped bundles suspected to be drugs on top of a cabinet near the bed. The search also yielded six more plastic-wrapped bundles inside a paper packet in the wardrobe and two rubber packets containing suspected drugs on the carpet. Additionally, police found MVR 3,130 on the cabinet, MVR 3,400 in a wallet on the bed, and a digital scale. The suspect claimed the room was not his, but police stated he was alone when the search was conducted. The Criminal Court has ordered a 12-day detention period, expiring on the 11th of next month. Police statistics show that over 2,000 drug-related cases have been registered so far this year.