Police have cracked down on a major criminal network, arresting four suspects and freezing dozens of bank accounts.
Police made the arrests under Operation Alimagu, which they carried out in Malé City and Gaafu Alifu Atoll on Sunday. Officers searched 10 locations and arrested all four suspects from G.A. Villingili.
The suspects are Shafa Latheef (28), Ahmed Madheeh (33), Ahmed Anam Ibrahim (30), and Noorun Nizam (35). The Criminal Court has remanded all four in custody for 15 days.
Police say the suspects are members of a drug trafficking and money laundering network that has operated since 2015. Investigators launched a special probe into the group in March last year.
Authorities say the network moved more than MVR 300 million and USD 400,000 through bank accounts over the past five years.
A court has frozen 53 bank accounts linked to 13 people. Police have so far identified 19 suspects connected to the network. Investigations are ongoing.
