65 arrests made during police's year-end operation

Maldives Police Service (MPS) has revealed that 65 arrests were made during their year-end special operation.

While officers were active in the Greater Malé Region as well as outlying islands during the operation, MPS revealed that 15 individuals were arrested from southernmost Addu City and 23 individuals from Fuvahmulah City.

Further, officers also arrested 19 individuals from capital city Malé, six individuals from Shaviyani atoll and one individual from Gaaf Dhaal atoll.

Police went on to reveal that 19 individuals currently remain in custody from the total of 65 arrested.

As such, two individuals from Addu City, five from Fuvahmulah, seven from the capital, one from Gaaf Dhaal atoll and four from Shaviyani atoll are currently detained.

Police launched the operation in time for the year-end holidays on 31 December, and officers were stationed across several regions of the capital and outlying atolls throughout.

The operation, which ended on 1 January 2020, aimed to crackdown on possible cases of drug-smuggling and several other offenses in time for new year’s celebration.

Officers were observably cracking down on drug cases since the beginning of December, with police even having discovered several “secret drug cafés” where users attained “drug services” under café procedure. Throughout the raid, officers arrested 33 individuals, minors included.

Each year, officers are extra watchful towards New Years as such cases usually arise during celebrations.