A policeman was arrested from Th. Vandhoo on Sunday carrying a teddy bear stuffed with drugs.
Mohamed Nawaz, 25, Dhilaasaage, Th. Hirilandhoo, was arrested from the Vandhoo harbor in the morning in a counter-narcotics operation run based on information received by Police Intelligence.
Nawaz, who the police confirm is an active policeman, was arrested on suspicion of attempting to smuggle drugs into Vandhoo.
During a search of his person and belongings, officers found a bear in his position with new stitching. The police examined the soft toy and found stuffed inside five packets with a substance they believe to be drugs.
Nawaz also tested positive for drugs.
Nawaz has been suspended as the police investigate the case.
The arrest marks the latest in a string of crimes involving active police officers. This includes a 43-year-old policeman who was arrested earlier in December from a beauty salon in Male’ City for allegedly assaulting a salon worker and then proceeding to obstruct and assault the police who attempted to intervene.
And in September, a 25-year-old police constable was arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs into the custodial jail in the Hithadhoo district of Addu City.