18 individuals arrested over attempted import of 24 kgs of drugs

Fourteen foreigners and four Maldivians have been arrested for smuggling 24 kg of drugs into the country. Speaking at a press conference at Iskandar Koshi today, Head of Drug Enforcement Department Superintendent of Police Mohamed Rasheed said that the four locals arrested in relation to this case include a police officer. The fourteen foreigners are made up of three Bangladeshis and eleven Pakistanis. Rasheed said that the seized drugs are heroin, and that the vessel that carried the drugs, registered in Iran, has travelled to Maldives to export tuna on several occasions in the past. “The Maldivians and Bangladeshis involved in this operation take a fishing boat to meet with the vessel crew once the vessel is about 30 nautical miles off Alifu Alifu Mathiveri. The drugs are concealed using fibreglass in a small ‘dinghy’, which is taken on-board the fishing boat. The fishing boat travels to a location near Hulhumale’ and two people travel on the dinghy to Hulhumale’,” he explained. Rasheed said that two people were arrested while disembarking to Hulhumale’ from the dinghy carrying drugs. The police also presented a video showing the route taken by the suspects to travel to the vessel and back on the fishing boat. Rasheed said that the street value of the drugs would be around MVR 36 million, and if it is sold with added powder, the street value could reach MVR 100 million. He said that it was not possible to provide more information due to the ongoing investigation, and that more details will be given once the investigation is completed.

Police operation to expose the drug smuggling activity was carried out between 4 and 10 of this month. Vessel had been classified suspicious earlier and was tracked down following intelligence. The vessel was seized with drugs on board on 10 March.

A police officer and three locals also arrested in relation to the discovery.

Drugs believed to be heroin. Laboratory tests required to confirm the substance.

Street value of 24 kgs of drugs is believed to be MVR 36 million ($2.3 million).

The vessel is registered in Iran. Drugs were loaded onto a lifeboat and concealed using fiberglass.

Police have stopped an attempted smuggle of 24 kgs of drugs into the Maldives on board a foreign fishing vessel. Fourteen foreigners including eleven Pakistanis have been arrested in relation to the discovery.