Maldives Police Service (MPS) has arrested three individuals during a major drug bust in capital city Malé’s suburban district Hulhumalé.

Speaking to media, police revealed that the operation was carried out by the police’s Drug Enforcement Department on 9 February.

During the operation, as part of authorities’ efforts to combat drug trafficking and smuggling in the country, officers conducted court-ordered raids at two houses and two flats following which a hefty number of drugs were confiscated.

Two big rubber packages, 24 pieces and cellophane and 16 film canisters were confiscated during the raids following which a 27-year-old, a 23-year-old, both Maldivians and a 26-year-old Bangladeshi were arrested.

The case is under further investigations, revealed police.

Of recent, drug smuggling and trafficking cases have been on the rise and officers have been cracking down on drug networks through their wide-spanned operations. As such, during the past month, drugs weighing over nine kilograms were seized, alongside over USD 100,000 and over MVR one million in separate cases.