Drugs worth MVR 21.6 million seized in three days

Drugs worth over MVR 22 million have been seized in a joint operation carried out by Maldives Police Service and Maldives Customs Service over the last three days.

Home Minister Ali Ihusan announced the feat via post on X in which detailed that 16.69 kilos of drugs were seized during intelligence-led counter-narcotic operations carried out by the Police and Customers in the past three days.

No further details regarding the seized drugs were disclosed apart from its street value, which the Minister said was MVR 21.6 million.

In the past 72 hours, @PoliceMv and @CustomsMv have conducted multiple intelligence lead counter narcotics operations and seized over 16.69 Kg of Drugs with street value of MVR 21.6 million. Under the leadership of President @MMuizzu we are aiming for a Drug free Maldives! Very…

— Minister of Homeland Security & Technology (@min_mohst) April 3, 2024

He added that the administration, under the leadership of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, is aiming for a drug-free Maldives.

Customs also seized  3.3 kilograms of drugs attempted to be smuggled into the Maldives via courier in late last month.

As per the authority, the drugs were discovered during an expansive search of two packages that arrived in the Maldives via courier following suspicions.

Customs said they discovered substances suspected to be drugs during the search – which during the first phase of testing, came back positive for synthetic cathinone.