Maldives police have arrested three foreigners and one local for possession of a large amount of alcohol bottles and beer cans.

Police said that the four were arrested in a special operation by its Drug Enforcement Department, after receiving reports that a foreigner was transporting alcohol from a safari boat, docked in the Hulhumalé reef, to capital Malé City for sale. It said that boat was in possession of alcohol ‘illegally’.

Police revealed that the three foreigners arrested were males- a 46-year-old, a 27-year-old and a 22-year-old- along with a 29-year-old Maldivian man. All three foreigners are from Bangladesh.

The 46-year-old was arrested near Allora furniture shop in Malé on Thursday. Police said that seven alcohol bottles were found inside the bag he was carrying. The rest were arrested after searching the safari boat, under a court order.

Police said they had seized 87 cases of alcohol bottles, 25 alcohol bottles, 20 beer bottles, 46 beer cans and 47 beer cases, from the safari boat.

Criminal Court has ordered for all four to be kept in remand for five days, as the Drug Enforcement Department continued the investigation.