Ahmed Ali met with supplier of drug-filled bottles: Police

Ahmed Ali, accused in the smuggling in of drugs in chocolate syrup bottles, met with the supplier of the bottles despite having claimed in court that he had only gone to clear the goods at Customs, Police have said in court. 

Two individuals were arrested in relation to the smuggling of drugs concealed in chocolate syrup bottles. The two men are Ahmed Ali, of Afiya, HA. Hoarafushi, and Mohamed Ali, of Golden House, GDh. Thinadhoo. 

Last Sunday, the Criminal Court extended Adil's remand by ten days. 

The court order from when Ahmed Ali was presented for remand extension shows that his lawyers had used the same defence as before. His lawyer claimed that Ahmed Ali was not aware that the bottles contained drugs, and that had he known, he would not have gone to clear the goods. 

However, the Police Investigation Officer stated that the investigation has uncovered that Ahmed Ali has communicated with persons involved in the case, and had travelled to India where he he had met with the supplier. 

Raas Maldives, the company that imported the bottles, is owned by Aadhil. At his remand hearing, however, Aadhil stated that the firm is being shut down and is in the process of being sold to Ahmed Ali. 

Ahmed Ali was arrested on December 26, while Aadhil was arrested the following day. 

Aadhil's remand order at the time states that the drugs were brought in in a shipment imported by his company Raas Maldives. Aadhil is the Managing Director of Raas Maldives, which was registered 16 years ago, and imports various goods to the country. 

In an inspection on December 25, Customs discovered that boxes in a Raas Maldives shipment contained hashish oil concealed in chocolate syrup bottles.

According to Customs, the weight of the seized drugs exceed 40kg, with its street value being over MVR 30 million. The bottles were packed in ten separate boxes.