Nine arrests made during major alcohol, drug busts on Thursday

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has made several arrests during a crackdown on alcohol smuggling in the capital region as well as an outlying island, on Thursday.

During three different operations conducted in Hulhumalé following a tip-off, officers of the MPS Drug Enforcement Department and Police Intelligence Unit arrested seven individuals from the capital city region on June 25.

Officers confiscated a hefty number of alcohol bottle-packed boxes being smuggled into capital Malé City from suburbs Hulhumalé on a pickup truck.

Arrested in connection to the first operation is a 26-year-old Bangladeshi man who has since been remanded by five days.

Further, officers confiscated a number of alcohol bottles and drugs from an apartment in the suburban district of the capital during a court-ordered raid.

A 26-year-old and 29-year-old, had been arrested in connection to the case.

They have since been remanded by 15 days.

DED and intel officers also arrested four individuals under another court-ordered raid conducted inside an apartment in Hulhumalé; a 20-year-old, 21-year-old, 42-year-old and 28-year-old.

The four have since been remanded by five days.

All three cases are being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Department.

These operations were conducted as part of the authority’s efforts to crackdown on cases of drug trafficking. Photo by MPS

In a separate operation conducted the same day in Naifaru island of Lhaviyani atoll, officers stationed there in collaboration with police intel, arrested a 26-year-old and 44-year-old.

The operation was prompted by a tip-off that both suspects were involved in a drug trafficking and smuggling network in Naifaru.

A packet filled with suspected narcotics was confiscated upon searching both men. They have since been remanded by 15 days.

The case is under further investigation by the Naifaru Police Station.

All the arrests made on Thursday, except one, are Maldivian men and are to be remanded at a facility decided by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

These operations were conducted as part of the authority’s efforts to crackdown on cases of drug trafficking and smuggling in the island nation, in order to curb the crime.