PGO appeals acquittal of three in 72kg drug case

The State has appealed at the High Court the acquittal of S. Hulhudhoo, Dheyliyaage resident Irfan Thagiyyu and two other individuals in the case concerning the smuggling of 72 kg worth of drugs into Maldives.

Thagiyyu, Dheyliaage, S. Hulhudhoo, is accused of being the leader of the group who were intercepted while attempting to smuggle in 72 kg of drugs on a vessel named 'Masjaree-2' in December 2020. Thagiyyu is charged with trafficking diamorphine. The two others charged alongside him are Mohamed Akram, H. Garden Beauty and Ahmed Naseer, Ambugasdhoshuge, Dh. Maaenbudhu.

In January, Criminal Court acquitted the three, ruling that it is not proven without a doubt that the drugs were smuggled on the boat.

The state withdrew charges against seven additional suspects. The Prosecutor General's Office stated that this was because, in light of superior court rulings, there is insufficient evidence to convict the seven.

The case was not appealed within the appeal window due to a failure of receiving reports. As the Criminal Procedure Act states that courts have the prerogative to count the appeal duration from the date that the lower court provides the reports, the High Court granted this in this case.

Prosecutor General's Office spokesperson and lawyer Ahmed Shafeeu said that an appeal against the Criminal Court's acquittal of the three was submitted to High Court yesterday.

Police previously accused them of sending an individual to Pakistan as a guarantor to the drug suppliers, who remained under the watch of the drug network. This guarantor was identified as Mohamed Misbah, who was announced as missing in June 2021. Although Misbah resided in his island of origin HDh. Nolhivaramfaru, he went missing while in Male'.

Police said that Misbah was taken to Pakistan on a Fly Dubai flight on November 11, 2020, accompanied by Irfan Thagiyyu. Irfan was arrested after his return to Male', with drugs found in his possession.

Police also said that Iran and Misbah had been taken to the airport in the car that Irfan had been driving when he was later caught with 72kg drugs. The drugs were found in the car's boot after it was smuggled in to the country via sea and brought to Male' in a speedboat.