Maldives Police Service (MPS) has arrested 21 people, caught in the act of abusing substances, from two separate houses being used as drug dens.

According to a media official of the MPS, a total of 10 people were arrested from a house named YumYum in Maafanu ward of Male' city during a drug operation conducted on Saturday. Further, some were taken into custody after being caught red-handed while using drugs. Upon searching the house, substances suspected to be drugs were found in the residence.

The ten people taken into custody consisted of 9 Maldivian men and 1 Maldivian woman.

A second suspected drug den was also raided by the police on Saturday night.

The authorities reveal that a total of eleven people were arrested from a house called Everest in Maafanu ward of capital city Malé. This included two Maldivian women, eight Maldivian men and one Bangladeshi man.

While the authorities state that some of the detainees were caught in the act, the police also found substances suspected to be drugs inside the residence.

This comes at a time of several drug busts of drug dens which were reportedly being run under "cafe' procedures".

Since the beginning of December, authorities have arrested over 50 suspects in drug operations conducted in the capital city this week, including minors. While some have been released by the authorities, the number of people currently in custody is yet to be confirmed.