Sunday 18 Oct 2026
Combined photos of (from L-R) Polin, 43; and Al Amin, 34. (Photo/Maldives Police Service)
The Criminal Court on Saturday extended the remand of two of four people arrested with over 800 bottles of alcohol last week in in a crackdown on a ring involved in large-scale liquor trade in Male’ City.
The police launched a joint operation by Drug Enforcement and Counter-Narcotics Intelligence on October 11, targeting a large-scale alcohol distribution network in Male’. During this operation, the police raided Maadhooge, located in the Henveiru district, and seized 824 bottles of alcohol.
320 bottles were found on the first floor, and another 504 on the fifth.
The operation led to the arrest of four suspects, three Bangladeshi males and one Maldivian male, the latter of whom is believed to be the ringleader.
They are:
Polin and Amin were both arrested on October 11, and are accused of the use, possession and distribution of alcohol. They were initially remanded in police custody for five days, but had their detention extended by 10 days on Saturday.
At their remand hearings, the investigative officer told the court that both Polin and Amin were linked to the properties from which the alcohol was found.
The officer identified Polin as the supervisor, in charge of dispatching alcohol orders. He admitted to being employed at the office from where the alcohol was found, and to having access to the property as an employee.
Meanwhile, the investigative officer told the court that Amin admitted at the scene to being involved in delivering the alcohol and engaging in related financial dealings.
The third suspect in the case, Rakib Hossein, was arrested on October 12, and was remanded in police custody for 15 days.
Meanwhile, Rashvan, believed to be the ringleader, was arrested on October 13 and remanded in police custody for 15 days.
The investigative officer told the court that Rashvan was arrested based on information provided by two individuals who were stopped and questioned on suspicion of being involved in distribution of alcohol.
According to the investigator, the two said they were employed by Rashvan, and were involved in the alcohol trade on his orders.
The properties from where the alcohol is found were linked to him, added the investigator.
But Rashvan, who attended the court with his lawyer, denied the allegations, and said that neither he nor anyone who could protect his interests were present when the police raided the properties.
He also asked to be release on bail – but was denied the request.
The case remains under further investigation by the police.
