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The Criminal Court has sentenced a man to 50 years in prison and fined him MVR 200,000 after he was caught attempting to smuggle drugs taped to his thighs through Velana International Airport.
News Desk
Justice annex building - Photo: One Online
MALE : The Criminal Court sentenced Abdulla Faseeh to 50 years in prison and imposed a fine of MVR 200,000 after convicting him on two drug trafficking charges.
Faseeh was arrested on October 7, 2024, at Velana International Airport while preparing to board a domestic flight to Gaafu Alifu Kooddoo. Officers searched his body and discovered a large quantity of illicit narcotics hidden beneath duct tape wrapped around both of his thighs.
Presiding Judge Ali Nadeem found Faseeh guilty of trafficking diamorphine and cannabis. The court sentenced him to 25 years in prison and a fine of MVR 100,000 for smuggling 23.5 grams of diamorphine, adjusting his actual prison time to 24 years, four months, and three days after deducting time spent in pre-trial detention. Additionally, the court imposed a matching 25-year sentence and an MVR 100,000 fine for smuggling 252 grams of cannabis packed inside 10 film canisters, bringing the total sentence to 50 years.
The court ordered Faseeh to pay the combined MVR 200,000 fine to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) within 12 months. During the trial, defense lawyers claimed Faseeh was coerced into carrying the substances and argued he was a human trafficking victim. However, the court rejected the defense claims because no supporting evidence was presented and Faseeh remained silent during the police investigation.
Convicted Individual: Abdulla Faseeh from Shaviyani Noomaraa.
Location of Arrest: Velana International Airport.
Seized Narcotics: 23.5 grams of diamorphine and 252 grams of cannabis.
Total Fine Amount: MVR 200,000 payable to MIRA within 12 months.
