MVR 143 mil worth drugs, liquor confiscated in 2024 first half

The Maldives Police Service reports confiscating MVR 143 million worth of drugs and alcohol during the first six months of 2024. Superintendent of Police Nahid Hussain, who leads the Drug Enforcement Unit, confirmed this on Saturday.

At a joint press conference of the Maldives Police Service and the Maldives Customs Service, Nahid announced that an average of 10 kilograms of drugs were confiscated each month during the first half of the year, totaling 62 kilograms of narcotic substances.

Police statistics indicate that the seized drugs have a face value of MVR 130 million, while the confiscated liquor is valued at approximately MVR 12.4 million.

“Based on the statistics alone, it is evident that combating drugs must be one of our top priorities. The types and quantities of seized drugs vary with each bust and each year,” Nahid stated.

Statistics of seized items:

• Liquor: 6,200 (can/bottle)

• Vape and cartridges: 95

• LSD and other party drugs: 40

• Steroids: 982

• Currency: MVR 2,572,069

• Currency: USD 13,909

• Currency: EUR 145

Nahid also confirmed the deportation of 116 expatriates in relation to various drug smuggling cases. He said, “This is indicative of the progress we have made in our efforts.”

The police reported that a Pakistani national was detained last Wednesday for carrying MVR 2 million worth of drugs, which have since been confiscated. Besides the Pakistani national, two Maldivian suspects have been arrested by authorities, with all three produced at the court, where they have been given 15 days in remand.