Man detained from airport with MVR 3.3 million in drugs

A Maldivian man was detained from the Maldives national airport over the weekend after authorities found drugs worth over MVR 3.3 million in his luggage.

According to Maldives Customs Service, the 33-year-old man arrived in Male’ from Bangkok on Saturday, October 19.

Airport officials suspected they might be carrying drugs inside his luggage and conducted a search.

They found 1.86 kilos of a substance that tested positive for mephedrone - a synthetic stimulant drug belonging to the amphetamine and cathinone classes. It is commonly referred to as meow meow.

The street value of the drugs is estimated to be MVR 3,348,000.

The suspect, along with the drugs confiscated in the case, were handed over to the police for a criminal investigation.

The suspect was presented before the Criminal Court for his remand hearing on Sunday. He was remanded in custody of the police for 15 days.

His remand period expires on November 4.

Court documents show he has a pre-existing criminal record.