Police: Involvement of expatriates in cases of alcohol has been on the rise

Police have said that alcohol seized by police during December have been increased and involvement of expatriates in cases of alcohol has been on the rise recently.

In a press conference held at Iskandhar Koshi on Thursday, Drug Enforcement Department Head, Superintendent of Police Ahmed Shifan said that police have conducted six major alcohol operations from First to 24 December 2014 and that police have seized a large amount of alcohol and apparatus used to prepare alcohol under those operations.

“We have been informed that expatriates are involved in preparation and selling of alcohol” said Shifan.

During the period of operations, police have seized 91 bottles of alcohol from a pick-up near Lecute on first of December and a 24 year old Maldivian man has been arrested over that case.

On Second December, Police have seized 97 bottles of alcohol from a studio at G.Beruge. While a 27 year old Maldivian man has been arrested over that case, a seven feet long snake has also been seized by the police from that location.

On the same evening, police have discovered 21 barrels of 20 liters containing a substance suspected to be alcohol from H.Nooakiri. Two Bangladeshis of ages 22 and 25 years have been arrested over that case.

Two Maldivian men of ages 21 and 19 years have been arrested on 5 December evening near Star Cinema with 21 bottles of branded alcohol.

Apart from this, on 11 December evening, large amount of homemade alcohol, branded alcohol, drugs and 17 prohibited tablets have been discovered by police from M.Pluto. 17 bottles of 500 milliliters, four bottles of five liters and four buckets containing a substance suspected to be alcohol have also been discovered under the same operation. Two men, a 35 year old Maldivian and a 34 year old Sri Lankan have been arrested over that case.

Shifan said that around 400 bottles of alcohol have been seized by the police under the operation conducted to control alcohol and drugs in Maldives.

The police also urged house owners to be more responsible while giving their houses to rent for expatriates and those who serve alcohol in safaris to be stricter in order to minimize involvement of expatriates in selling and producing alcohol.

Shifan said that police receive information regarding New Year celebrations ahead and that they would not provide any opportunity for any act that is agonist law.