Maldives Police Service (MPS) has uncovered more narcotic drugs buried in Hoandedhdhoo island in Gaaf Dhaal atoll and an uninhabited island nearby.

Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed revealed this via Twitter on Wednesday, revealing that police teams discovered 69 kilograms of narcotic drugs buried in Hoandedhdhoo and another island nearby.

This comes just a few days after authorities discovered 13 kilograms of drugs buried in the wooded area of the island on October 27.

CP Hameed applauded the efforts of the police teams, revealed that they have done “commendable” work to find the narcotics.

He went on to reveal that the total confiscated narcotics drugs so far weigh 82 kilograms, of both methamphetamine and heroin.

MPS in late October revealed that their Drug Enforcement Department (DED), intelligence unit and officers stationed in the south are currently conducting a special operation in the area.

As part of the operation which was initiated following an intel report that drugs were being smuggled into the Maldives, officers have confiscated hefty amounts of drugs so far.

The DED is currently running investigations into the drug bust.

This comes at a time the police institution has been targeted with public criticism over the sudden death of Abdulla Rasheed, 43 who was arrested in a counter-drug operation from a café near the harbor of Hoandedhdhoo island.

CP Hameed earlier expressed sorrow over the suspect’s death and revealed that the police institution will provide full support and cooperation for the probe now underway to confirm if there were any police misconduct or not, in how Abdulla’s arrest was handled.

He went on to reveal that the police had confiscated drugs that were buried inside the island’s wooded area by another suspect, on October 27.