96 people arrested in special drug operation

Maldives Police Service has arrested 96 people with a large quantity of drugs in a special operation based on information about drug use and possession.

Over the course of two weeks from 22 December 2016, Police have searched 1004 people and searched 21 locations with court orders.

Police said that they arrested 62 people in suspicion of drug possession and took in 34 people under the influence.

Items confiscated in the operation:

• 1.347 kilograms of suspected hash oil

• 0.436 kilograms of suspected heroin

• 62 cannabis seeds

• 14 alcohol bottles

• Two 500 ml bottles of suspected alcohol

• Drugs rolled into smoking

• 4 plastic bags, 4 rubber packs, 58 bullets and 101 cellophane packs of suspected drugs.

The Police also confiscated over MVR 279,000 and USD 710 believed to be made from the drug trade.

Police also arrested a 39-year-old Sri Lankan woman and an 27-year-old Indian man in an attempt to smuggle drugs into the country.

The Indian man was arrested after discovering drugs inside his body in an x-ray. The investigation into the smuggling is ongoing.