Heroin worth an estimated MVR 71 million was seized in Maldives capital on Tuesday.

Maldives Police Service recovered the 71kg haul of drugs in an operation held on Fareedhee Magu, where a car was inspected over suspicion of transporting a huge number of smuggled narcotics.

Police Commissioner Mohamed Hameed revealed that forensics were conducted, proving that the substance was heroin.

He said that approximately 71kg of heroin was seized in the operation, with a street value of MVR 71 million. A total of 71 packets of heroin were confiscated in the operation.

Commissioner Hameed added that the drug operation was foiled after a police investigation of over a week, by the police’s Drug Enforcement Department together with the Police Intelligence Department and the Marine Police.

He said that officers had been operating “on the sea and land for more than a week to disrupt this trafficking activity, seize the drugs and arrest the individuals who belong to the trafficking network”.

At least 10 suspects have been arrested in relation to the case.

Hameed also said that the police will continue to disrupt the trafficking of narcotic drugs “despite deficiencies in the criminal justice system”.