Maldives Police Service (MPS) has revealed that the operation launched in time for New Years is still ongoing.

Dubbed “Operation Riveli”, the operation was launched to ensure public safety during the holiday season, revealed police.

However, further details and updates of the operation have not been revealed yet.

Starting 22 December, officers were active in patrolling the Greater Malé Region as well as outlying islands during the operation and MPS revealed a total of 6,867 vehicles have been searched in the operation thus far, including 908 individuals.

Officers earlier revealed that they had confiscated several illegal items including those used for theft and robbery, illegal substances used for new year’s celebrations, narcotic substances as well as several bottles of alcohol over the course of the operation.

A total of 65 arrests were made during the year-end special operation; 15 individuals were arrested from southernmost Addu City and 23 individuals from Fuvahmulah City. Further arrests include 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.

The operation aims 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.