Three individuals have been arrested and remanded, following separate drug operations conducted across outlying atolls.

One of the operations saw the arrest of two 33-year-old Maldivian men, who were caught attempting to smuggle drugs into Maamigili island of Raa atoll.

As such, the two were travelling to Maamigili from Fenfushi island in Alif Dhaal atoll on a small dinghy. Officers searched the dinghy upon which they confiscated three rubber packets filled with suspected narcotics. The operation was carried out on Monday.

The Mahibadhoo Magistrate Court has since remanded the two men by 10 days, at a facility allocated by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Further, an operation in Rasmaadhoo island of Raa atoll was provoked by an intelligence report received by the intelligence department. Officers stationed in the island collaborated with officers from Ungoofaaru island in the same atoll to conduct the operation. A 19-year-old man was arrested in connection to the case.

The man is to have received a package containing suspected narcotics, which was transported to the island from capital Malé City via speedboat.

The man has been remanded for a period of seven days, at a remand facility allocated by the Home Ministry.

In another operation conducted on Tuesday, officers confiscated 12 pieces of cellophane filled with suspected narcotics inside a package that was dropped off at Thoddoo island in Alif Alif atoll from the capital city. The package was taken under police custody as no one collected it from the speedboat that arrived from Malé City.

No arrests have been made in connection to the case, however, further investigations are currently underway.

This is part of the wider efforts by the police institution to curb drug trafficking and smuggling across the nation.