The Criminal Court has ordered the extension of the remand of two individuals arrested in connection with smuggling seven kilograms of drugs into the Maldives by air.

Last month, three individuals were arrested in an operation involving over seven kilograms of narcotics. Subsequent searches of apartments linked to the suspects uncovered additional illicit substances.

According to the police, the operation was launched to locate suspects after the Maldives Customs Service intercepted over seven kilograms of drugs from a flight arriving the previous day and handed the contraband over to the police. The individuals arrested under suspicion of importing, possessing, using, and trafficking drugs into the Maldives are Abdulla Raaif, 27 (Hiyaavahi, L. Kalaidhoo), MD Joshim Uddin, 43 (Bangladesh), and Mamun Dali, 32 (Bangladesh).

When initially produced before the court for a remand ruling, Raaif was remanded for three days, while the two Bangladeshi nationals were remanded for 15 days.

Upon the expiration of that period, an extension of detention was sought only for the two Bangladeshi nationals. The court has ordered them to be held in remand for an additional five days.

The Criminal Court's order specified that the five-day extension was granted due to an issue regarding legal representation. The state-appointed defense lawyer previously assigned to the suspects had traveled abroad, and a new lawyer was assigned by the state. Although the Investigating Officer (IO) informed the court that the new lawyer claimed to have registered with the court, the lawyer failed to appear for the hearing. Upon inquiry by the bench, the court's administrative desk confirmed that no official appointment form had been submitted for the new lawyer.

Police stated that during the operation, over 13 kilograms of drugs were discovered during searches of two apartments in Malé. Combined with the seven kilograms initially seized by Customs, a total of over 21 kilograms of narcotics were confiscated during the entire operation.