Police seize MVR 121 million in drugs and alcohol in 7 months
More than 1,140 counter-narcotics operations were conducted across the Maldives between January and the end of July.
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The Maldives Police Service's Drug Enforcement Department (DED) seized drugs and alcohol valued at more than MVR 121 million through its operations during the first seven months of this year, police said on Tuesday.
Police disclosed figures on counter-narcotics operations conducted up to the end of July at a press conference on Tuesday.
Head of the Drug Enforcement Department, Superintendent of Police Ahmed Muslim, said more than 1,140 counter-narcotics operations were conducted across the Maldives between January and the end of July.
According to Muslim, this amounted to an average of five operations per day. The operations were conducted in coordination with relevant authorities as part of efforts to intercept drugs entering the country and address drug-related offences.
A total of 1,805 people were arrested nationwide during the period, averaging about eight arrests per day. More than 760 of the arrests were made in the Greater Malé Region.
Muslim said operations conducted by DED alone resulted in the seizure of more than 177 kilograms of drugs with an estimated street value exceeding MVR 120 million.
The department also confiscated 845 bottles of alcohol valued at more than MVR 960,000.
The combined estimated value of drugs and alcohol seized through DED operations exceeded MVR 121 million, he said.
Police also provided figures covering counter-narcotics work conducted jointly with other authorities.
During the period, individuals suspected of drug-related offences were stopped and searched 23,209 times, while more than 7,300 searches were conducted at locations across the country.
Police carried out 260 planned intelligence-led operations across 17 atolls.
More than 144 kilograms of drugs were seized nationwide through these operations, according to the figures presented at the press conference.
Police investigated 1,533 drug-related cases during the period and forwarded 634 cases to the Prosecutor General's Office with requests to press charges.
Authorities also referred 37 people identified as drug-dependent for rehabilitation and treatment.
Among foreign nationals arrested during counter-narcotics operations, 116 were handed over to Maldives Immigration for deportation and entry bans.
Police said six locations identified as drug dens in Malé have also been closed as part of enforcement operations this year.
