Three individuals have been arrested in connection with drug operations.

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) conducted the drug operations under their ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking and smuggling across the island nation and crackdown on such networks.

Two out of the three suspects were arrested in Hanimaadhoo island of Haa Dhaal atoll and the third suspect was arrested in Eydhafushi island of Baa atoll.

Police stationed in Hanimaadhoo launched the operation after being tipped off that the suspects were involved in drug trafficking. Arrested were a 24-year-old man and a 44-year-old man.

The operation in Hanimaadhoo was conducted on August 21.

The two suspects were stopped on the road and searched, upon which officers discovered nine pieces of paper filled with suspected narcotics.

Upon being presented to the Hanimaadhoo Magistrate Court for their remand hearing, the two suspects were given seven days in remand, at a facility decided by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Acting on another intel report that drugs were being smuggled into Eydhafushi from the capital Malé City, police officers stationed on the island conducted an operation on the island harbor.

Arrested in connection with the operation was a 50-year-old Maldivian man.

During the operation conducted on Monday, police officers found the man to be in possession of a rubber packet filled with suspected narcotics.

Further investigations are currently underway in both cases.