Approximately 80 kilograms of narcotic drugs were seized in an operation carried out in southernmost Addu City.

Commissioner of police, Mohamed Hameed revealed this via Twitter, adding that a number of people were arrested in the “huge” counter narcotics operation in Addu.

Noting that the operation was carried out “solely on locally developed intelligence and policing work,” Hameed said that engagements with international partners will be carried out “as the investigation progresses”.

He added that the police is “intent on disrupting the supply of drugs”.

The drugs were seized on Saturday, in the joint operation being carried out by the police’s Drug Enforcement Department, Drugs Intelligence Unit, Divisional Intelligence Unite, Marine Police and the South Police Division.

While the police commissioner said that the drugs were seized through local intelligence, some international media outlets have reported that the drug bust was following intelligence from Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotic Force (ANF).

Reports claim that the drug bust was worth billions in rupees.