MVR 3.3 mil worth drugs nabbed, one arrested

Law enforcement authorities have arrested one suspect for the alleged involvement in smuggling MVR 3.3 million worth of illicit narcotics into the Maldives.

Maldives Customs Service confirms handing over a 45-year-old individual as the prime suspect in the case.

The items were confiscated from an air-freighted consignment, which were discovered after authorities checked the contents of the consignment due to suspicion. Customs also added the consignment had arrived in Maldives last Thursday via Bangkok.

Preliminary tests revealed presence of two illicit narcotics, which were later identified as cathinone and cannabis. The content included 5.5 kilograms of cannabis and 416 grams of cathinone; with a gross weight of 5.9 kilograms and a face value of MVR 3,348,000 according to Customs.

Smuggling of drugs either via sea or air have been increasing more recently.