Heroin worth MVR 2m seized from two Indian passengers
20 އޮކްޓޯބަރު 2024 | އާދީއްތަ 07:26Suspicious substances were found in the luggage of both passengers
The heroin seized during the operation was worth MVR two million
Maldives Customs Service has seized narcotics from the luggage of two Indian passengers.
Taking to social media platform ‘X’ on Saturday, customs revealed that the drugs were seized on October 15.
The drugs were seized during an inspection of the luggage of two passengers hailing from India, who arrived in the Maldives from Malaysia via air.
The inspection stemmed from suspicions that they were attempting to smuggle narcotics.
The individuals have been identified as a 41-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman.
During the inspection, suspicious substances were found in the luggage of both passengers.
According to customs, initial testing yielded positive results for heroin, a type of narcotic.
Customs further revealed that the total weight of the substances, including packaging, was 2.05 kilograms, with an estimated street value of MVR 2,050,000.
Customs highlighted that the seized narcotics and the two passengers have since been handed over to the Maldives Police Service (MPS) for further investigation.
Sources report that the two individuals are a married couple.
Upon being presented before the Criminal Court on October 16 for a remand hearing, the two suspects were remanded for three days.
The court order noted that a short period was given due to the unavailability of an interpreter.
Further investigations are currently underway in connection with the case.
Customs frequently intercepts narcotics being smuggled into the Maldives by air.
Further, individuals trying to transit through the Maldives to smuggle narcotics to other countries have been apprehended with drugs at Velana International Airport (VIA).
Earlier this month, a 33-year-old woman from Brazil was caught with narcotics worth MVR six million in her luggage, upon arrival.
