Police seize 12kg of drugs, arrest 16 in coordinate operation

Sixteen people have been arrested in connection with an attempt to smuggle drugs by sea, police said on Friday. The arrests were made during an operation carried out in Gaafu Alif Atoll and Gaafu Dhaal Atoll between 2 and 13 of this month following intelligence reports that a large quantity of drugs was being prepared for transport to the Maldives.

Police said 12 kilogrammes of drugs have been recovered so far. The identities of the suspects have not been disclosed. Those arrested include 15 men aged between 27 and 45, and a 24-year-old woman. Arrests were made as follows:

Eleven of the 16 suspects have been produced in court and remanded in custody. According to police:

The operation involved Drug Enforcement, Counter Narcotics Intelligence and South Police teams. Searches were conducted across 18 houses, a guesthouse, an office, a farm, two plots of vacant land, two cars and five motorcycles.

Police noted that the arrests coincide with Operation Alimagu, launched on Thursday on the orders of President Mohamed Muizzu. The operation is part of nationwide efforts to identify and dismantle drug trafficking networks and bring those involved to justice.