13 people have been arrested in Addu City for disorderly behaviour in public, reveals Maldives Police Service (MPS).

According to the authorities, a special "new year" operation was launched on 31st December 2019.

During the operation which began on Tuesday morning, police found three spaces with alcohol distillation equipment in the forest of Hithadhoo island and in abandoned buildings. They further discovered 12 moonshine bottles of 500ml and one moonshine bottle of five litres.

Additionally, 13 people were apprehended for disorderly behaviour in public while another person was arrested under a court order for causing damage to a shop window in Hithadhoo.

These incidents are undergoing further investigation.

As such, MPS added that the authorities also took part in the children's festival arranged by the organisation "Addu Friends" which was held at 04:00 pm near Hithadhoo's harbour area. Furthermore, the police provided security detail for the new year show that night as well.