Criminal Court jails woman for 18 years, fines MVR 75,000 over controlled delivery case

The Criminal Court has sentenced a woman to 18 years in prison and fined her MVR 75,000 for failing to cooperate with a police-controlled delivery operation involving narcotics.

The case relates to the smuggling of about two kilograms of drugs into the Maldives via FedEx. Prosecutors charged Azma Shareef of Kashikeyomaage, G.A. Kanduhulhudhoo, with participating in the trafficking of drugs listed under Schedule 1.

Azma collected a box that had been shipped with women’s clothing but concealed MDMA, a Schedule 1 drug. Police and customs officers were conducting a controlled delivery operation to identify the intended recipient.

The package was addressed to Fathimath Jameema. At trial, Azma denied the charges, claiming she collected the box at the request of a friend. However, police witnesses testified that she failed to cooperate with their attempt to deliver the package to the alleged owner. The operation was terminated, and Azma was arrested.

Delivering the verdict on Tuesday, Judge Ali Adam noted that police testimony confirmed the box contained MDMA. The court found Azma guilty of obstructing the controlled delivery and participating in drug smuggling.