Three individuals have been arrested in connection with a drug bust in Villingili island of Gaaf Alif atoll.

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) revealed that the operation was conducted jointly by the Villingili Police Station and the Police Intelligence Unit on September 28.

The operation stemmed from an intel report received by the Police Narcotics Intelligence unit regarding drug possession and trafficking.

Arrested in connection with the drug operation were Mohamed Athoof Habeeb, 24, Mohamed Thagiyyu, 25 and Mohamed Zahuwan, 23.

The 24-year-old and 25-year-old hail from Villingili and the 23-year-old hails from Gadhdhoo island in Gaaf Dhaal atoll.

Officers confiscated seven rubber packets, four pieces of rubber and a piece of cellophane filled with suspected narcotics as well as a 20-liter container suspected to contain alcohol, as part of the raid conducted inside a house where one of the suspects lived.

Upon being presented to the Villingili Magistrate Court for their remand hearing, Athoof was given 15 days in remand with the other two suspects remanded for a 10-day period.

Villingili Police Station is currently conducting further investigations in connection with the case.