Drugs worth MVR 26 million that were being smuggled into the Maldives by air, have been seized by authorities.

Maldives Customs Service said that 18 kilograms of drugs hidden in a shipment attempting to enter the Maldives by air was seized, and that the shipment was confiscated during a special operation conducted on Tuesday night.

Customs has seized 18.62 kilograms of cannabinoids.

Regarding the operation, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan said that the street value of the seized drugs is approximately MVR 26 million.

Minister Ihusaan stated that, as part of ongoing efforts to eradicate drug use in the Maldives, Customs personnel are working diligently to ensure comprehensive border surveillance. He added that authorities are actively dismantling environments that enable drug trafficking and are committed to bringing offenders to justice.

Customs personnel regularly conduct special operations and seizes large quantities of drugs attempting to enter the Maldives by sea and air.

In March, drugs worth MVR 6.7 million being smuggled into the Maldives by sea were also seized. Further, another consignment of drugs worth MVR 59 million that was being smuggled into the Maldives via the Indian Ocean was also seized by the Indian Coast Guard in March.

Customs continues to seize cigarettes and various tobacco products being illegally imported into the Maldives during their regular operations as well.