The Criminal Court has sentenced a man to 24 years and 11 months in prison for trafficking diamorphine.

The man, identified as Shayaal bin Rilwan, Th. Guraidhoo, was convicted of drug trafficking following an investigation into suspected drug sales near H. Piyaaz.

Police acted on intelligence that two individuals were selling drugs concealed beneath a parked motorcycle. During the operation, officers found Shayaal handling a green bag beneath the motorcycle.

A subsequent search uncovered diamorphine and drug-related equipment inside a bag.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court fined him MVR 100,000, payable to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority within 12 months.