Lanka-Maldives enhance counter-terrorism co-operation

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Maldives’ National Central Bureau (NCB) are currently co-operating to crack down on terrorist suspects, who use Sri Lanka and the Maldives as transit hubs.

A senior officer from the CID, speaking to Haveeru on grounds of anonymity, said that the co-operation between the two countries is part of a bilateral agreement, signed in 2009 by both countries, to share intelligence and exchange information related to terror suspects.

“We have been coordinating with Interpol and the Maldivian authorities to nab terrorist suspects. We have received information on individuals who are on the wanted list in the Maldives.

We are keeping a watchful eye on those who visit Sri Lanka since we have learnt from past experiences that international fugitives use the Maldives and Sri Lanka as transit destinations,” he said.

This move comes against the backdrop of the most recent arrest of a 42-year-old Maldivian national, identified as Iqbal Mohamed, who was travelling to Male via Sri Lanka on March 10.

Interpol had issued a “Red Notice” alert for Mohamed, at the request of the NCB, for his involvement with certain terrorist groups in Asia and his involvement in a 2007 terrorist bombing.

The Major Events Support Team (IMEST), which is a branch of Interpol currently deployed in Sri Lanka for the 2011 Cricket World Cup, identified the terror suspect during a routine passenger check at the Katunayake International Airport.