Maldives Police Service (MPS) has arrested an expatriate with a hefty stash of alcohol in Maafushi island of Kaafu atoll.

Police media official revealed that arrested was a 24-year-old Bangladeshi national a little past 7pm on Saturday.

He was arrested from the harbor region following suspicious behavior, by officers patrolling the island.

A while after his arrest, officers conducted a search at his residence, where they found a stash of 42 bottles of different brands of alcohol and 203 cans of beer.

Police has since launched further investigations into the case.

Under law, those found in possession or smuggling of alcohol will be slapped with harsh penalties, as alcohol is not permitted in the country in line with Islamic laws and regulations, being a “100 percent Muslim nation”.

With this being said, each year, officers are extra watchful towards New Years as such cases usually arise during celebrations. Officers are currently running special operations in capital city Malé where vehicles and vessels are being checked, however, police defines this as an operation aimed at curbing cases of theft and robbery.