11 arrested following seizure of 61 kilos of heroin from fishing boat

The Drug Enforcement Department, in a join operation with the Police Intelligence and Marine Police, has seized 61.06 kilos of heroin from a local fishing boat, and made 11 arrests.

The news of the successful operation was announced by the Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed in a tweet this Thursday.

He said the operation had taken nine days.

“After 9 days of good police work, our Drug Intelligence, Operations team of DED and Marine Police have successfully seized 61.06 kgs of heroin,” announced Hameed.

He said the heroin seized in the operation had an estimated street value of MVR 72 million.

11 people, identified only as Maldivian nationals, have been arrested in connection to the case. Seven were arrested from the fishing boat itself, and the four others were arrested from Male’ City and suburban Hulhumale.

The case is under investigation by the police.