Police arrest three Indian expatriates in Male' with liquor, drugs and brewing equipment

Police have arrested three expatriates in Male' city after raiding two apartments and recovering liquor, drugs and equipment used to brew alcohol.  

The Drug Enforcement Department conducted the operation on Monday following a tip‑off from Counter Narcotics Intelligence. From the two premises, officers seized 12 bottles of 500 ml liquor, three five‑liter bottles, 12 taps of suspected liquor, a cellophane bag containing suspected drugs, a rubber packet and utensils used to cook liquor.  

The suspects, identified as Indian nationals Tino Ganesan, 27, Arjun Kuppan, 25, and Anish Pushpakaran, 33, were taken into custody in connection with the case. Police said the three have been handed over to Immigration for deportation, while investigations continue.  

Authorities note that expatriates involved in criminal activities, including liquor manufacturing, remain a recurring issue in Maldives. Just two weeks ago, police arrested a Bangladeshi man for attempting to conceal 72 bottles of beer.  

The government has pledged to address irregular immigration. Home Minister Ali Ihusaan recently stated that biometric data of 202,000 expatriates has been collected under Operation Kurangi, and 9,697 expatriates have been deported over the past two years.