Nepalese man arrested for allegedly smuggling alcohol in water bottles

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has revealed that a Nepalese national has been arrested on suspicion of transporting a large quantity of alcohol in water bottles.

The police institution revealed that based on information received about a van traveling to Hulhumalé carrying boxes containing bottles suspected to contain alcohol, the van was stopped and searched on Reethigas Magu in Hulhumalé at around 09:46pm on Thursday night.

The police institution went on to reveal that when the van was searched, 75 bottles of 500ml each, believed to contain alcohol, were found.

In addition to this, MPS revealed that in connection with the case, a Nepalese national who was driving the van has been arrested. He has been identified as Tirtha Bahadur, 37.

The van has since been towed.

Further investigations are currently underway in connection with the case.