A 31-year-old man from the Maldives has been sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of MVR 100,000 after being found guilty of cannabis trafficking.

Hamdhoon Ahmed, Municipal 2069, Male', was apprehended on 7 February 2024 on suspicion of drug usage, possession, and trafficking. The Criminal Court stated he was arrested at 10:24 pm after receiving information that he and others were selling drugs from his home.

Authorities conducted a search of the apartment and confiscated 208 grams of marijuana.

Hamdhoon originally entered a not guilty plea but subsequently pursued a plea deal while witnesses were testifying. The Prosecutor General’s Office presented the agreement on March 25 of the previous year, in which he acknowledged the trafficking charge.

The judge imposed a sentence of 12 years and six months of incarceration on him. Nonetheless, after subtracting the two years, one month, and 18 days he has already served in detention, Hamdhoon must complete nine years, 10 months, and 12 days.

The verdict was issued by Judge Ibrahim Zihni. The court additionally decided that the trafficking charge against his alleged associate, Aishath Athifa from Canary, Hithadhoo, Addu City, will be addressed in a separate hearing.