Maldives Customs Service has revealed that drug imports into Maldives have increased by 42% this time of the year compared to the previous year.

Speaking at a press conference, Chief Superintendent of Customs Ismail Hamdhoon said that over six kilograms of narcotics has been seized within three cases in July alone. These include 5.4 kilograms of narcotics seized from a 30-year-old Bangladeshi citizen from Dhaka, two kilograms of narcotics seized from a 23-year-old female travelling from Tanzania via the Doha route, and 771 kilograms of narcotics seized from a 31-year-old Maldivian citizen arriving from India.

The Chief Superintendent also said that 23 kilograms of narcotics have been seized since January thus far in 54 cases. These include nine cases through the air-route, 42 cases through the post and one through the sea-route.

Hamdhoon further highlighted the growing issue of party drugs which are recorded to have several negative affects to health.