Four individuals have been arrested from three different islands, for being in possession of drugs.

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) revealed that the drug operation was conducted in the three islands, Nilandhoo Island of Faafu Atoll, a resort in Dhaalu Atoll and Thinadhoo Island of Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, as part of their efforts to curb drug trafficking and smuggling across the island nation, and to crackdown on such networks.

The operation in Nilandhoo stemmed from an intel report that drugs were being trafficked on the island. The operation was conducted by the officers on 13 January 2024.

During the operation, two 21-year-olds were arrested. As such, upon searching the two individuals, two cellophane bags containing suspected drugs were recovered from one of them.

The suspects were taken to the Nilandhoo Magistrate Court for their remand hearing, with which one was remanded by five days and the other by seven days at a facility allocated by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The second operation was conducted on January 11 following a tip-off that drugs were being smuggled in a resort of Dhaalu atoll. A 23-year-old man was arrested in the operation.

Upon searching the man, officers found two empty film canisters stuffed with suspected narcotics on the man.

Upon being taken to his remand hearing to the Dhaalu Meedhoo Magistrate Court, the suspect was remanded by five days, at a facility allocated by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In Gdh. Thinadhoo a 46-year-old Sri Lankan man was arrested after a police officer patrolling the roads stopped him on suspicion of being drunk and found a bottle of liquor from him.

The police is further investigating the case.