Maldives Police Service (MPS) has on Saturday arrested a 27-year-old Maldivian in a drug bust in Mahibadhoo island of Alif Dhaalu atoll.

Upon being tipped off that the man was attempting to smuggle into Omadhoo island in the same atoll, officers of the Mahibadhoo Police Station had conducted an operation.

Officers arrested the man from the harbor area and seized 19 pieces of straw inside a rubber packet, suspected to contain narcotic substances.

Upon being spotted by the police, the man had tossed the rubber packet into the sea.

Mahibadhoo Police Station is investigating the case.

Just last week, police had raided an oil tanker and arrested four men in possession of drugs. This Tuesday, police arrested a 21-year-old man with drugs in Holhudhoo. Another drug bust saw the arrest of 21 individuals in capital city Malé. Police also arrested a 37-year-old trying to smuggle drugs into Gan inside his body.