Three men arrested with alcohol during two anti-drug operations by the Maldives Police Service (MPS) have been released.

The first of the two operations was conducted by Drug Enforcement Department and Police Intelligence Unit on 28 December 2023, following a tip-off that alcohol was being illegally smuggled into Male' City.

As such, after conducting a search of a café' in Hulhumale', a 26-year-old Bangladeshi man and a 21-year-old Indian man were arrested with alcohol.

Seven bottles of alcohol and 72 bottles of beer were recovered from the café.

When they were presented at the Hulhumale' Magistrate Court for remand hearing, they were both conditionally released.

The second operation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Department on 29 December, following a tip-off that a suspect was in possession and trafficking of alcohol.

During the operation, a house in Male' City was searched and a 42-year-old Bangladeshi man was arrested with 34 bottles of alcohol.

The three have been turned over to Maldives Immigration by MPS as they have been granted conditional release.

Maldives Police Service is further investigating the cases.