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Police patrol the Velana International Airport. (Atoll Times File Photo)

Maldives seizes MVR 12 million drugs

The weight of the drugs seized from them is the highest amount of drugs seized this year.

29 July 2024

Malaysians have been arrested with drugs worth MVR 12 million in a joint smuggling operation involving people from four countries, Maldives said Monday.

Customs and police held a joint press conference at Iskandhar Building on Monday to disclose the details of the case. This is the first time Malaysians have been arrested in Maldives in a drug case. The weight of the drugs seized from them is the highest amount of drugs seized this year.

Arrested in this case:

  • 44-year-old Malaysian man

  • 41-year-old Malaysian man

  • They have been remanded in custody for five days

Customs Superintendent Mohamed Afzal said the items were seized in a joint operation with police on Saturday.

He said the 44-year-old Malaysian man's luggage was searched.

  • 15.38 kg of cannabis found

  • The street value of these items is estimated at MVR 12.3 million

Police Drug Enforcement Unit Chief, Superintendent Nahid Hussain said the investigation has revealed that other people are involved in smuggling the drugs. People from four different countries are involved, he said.

However, no further details could be given yet, he said.

Customs also said it had noticed attempts to deceive the customs about the route of travel of the Malaysian who arrived in Male with the drugs. He came to Maldives after travelling from Bangkok to Dubai and, it added.

The investigation has not yet identified any involvement of a Maldivian in the case, police said.

Anti-drug operations so far this year:

  • A total of 64.8 kg of drugs seized; The street value of these items is estimated at MVR 106 million

  • Most of these are cannabis

  • 37 cases have been sent for prosecution

  • 9 cases have been tried; eight of these cases have been convicted

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