Three arrests made in connection to drug busts this week
16 ޖެނުއަރީ 2020 | ބުރާސްފަތި 08:54A 33-year-old was arrested on Wednesday
Police line at crime scene
Maldives Police Service (MPS) made several arrests since Saturday, in their efforts to curb drug smuggling and trafficking across Maldives.
On Wednesday, officers from Dhangethi Police Station arrested a 33-year-old following a tip-off that he was attempting to smuggle drugs into the island in Alif Dhaal atoll, via a vessel en route from capital city Malé.
As such, the man was brought into police custody from the harbor region close to 6pm on Wednesday, and officers confiscated three rubber packets filled with suspected narcotics during the operation.
While Dhangethi Police Station has since launched an investigation into the case, earlier this week on Tuesday, police also arrested a 27-year-old attempting to smuggle drugs into southernmost Addu City via air.
During an operation conducted by the Gan Police Station, jointly with police intelligence, following an intel report that he was attempting to smuggle drugs via a flight travelling from the capital to Addu City.
Upon searching the 27-year-old, officers found a packet filled with suspected narcotics and the Feydhoo Magistrate Court has since remanded the man. He is to be remanded in a location allocated by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Gan Police Station is probing the case.
Further, on Saturday, officers arrested a 24-year-old during an operation in a resort in Raa atoll.
As such, officers arrested the man from the harbor region of the resort following a tip-off that he was smuggling drugs via a supply boat from Meedhoo island in the same atoll.
Officers found 13 pieces of cellophane filled with suspected narcotics upon searching the man.
The 24-year-old has since been remanded by 10 days by Fainu Magistrate Court and the Meedhoo Police Station is looking into the case.
Drug smuggling and trafficking cases have been on the rise since December, with officers having cracked down on major drug smuggling cases, including secret drug cafés that were being operated with the consent from landlords.
MPS is seen to be strengthening its operations to battle drug trafficking in the country, in recent days.
