An Indian court on Thursday handed down a 10-year prison sentence and a fine of Rs 10,000 (MVR 2,300) to Ajouth Mohammed, 28, after he was found guilty of smuggling drugs.
According to the Bangalore Mirror, Ajouth was arrested along with two Indian accomplices from a lodge with 500 grams of heroin on Balepete main road on February 7, 2012. The seized heroin was estimated to be worth over Rs 60 lakh (MVR 1.3 million).
The two accomplices, who were reportedly involved in multiple drug trafficking cases in the past, were in touch with a heroin cartel in Maldives, while Ajouth was the drug mule, the news outlet reported.
While all three were fined and handed prison sentences, the court has also said they will have to serve one more year in prison if they fail to pay the penalty.
According to investigators, Ajouth was found to be part of a heroin peddling racket in Maldives and had cited medical treatment as his official purpose of visit to India.
Ajouth had reportedly arrived in the city a couple of weeks before his arrest and later made contact with his two associates.