Maldives seizes MVR 1 billion in drugs smuggled via Sri Lankan fishing boat

Maldivian authorities have seized a shipment of drugs worth MVR 1 billion from a Sri Lankan fishing boat off HDh. Makunudhoo.

In a press briefing on Sunday evening, Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau said the boat ‘Ashenfutha’ was tracked and captured by the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) at around 12:45 am in what he described as a “successful multi-agency operation.”

The boat had been travelling with five sailors – all of them men of Sri Lankan nationality – when it was captured from Maldivian waters off Makunudhoo.

Following the capture of the boat, it was taken to Kulhudhuffushi and raided by the Kulhudhuffushi Police and the Coast Guard.

“468.6 kilos of suspected drugs were found during the raid conducted at 09:30 am by the Kulhudhuffushi City Police in collaboration with the MNDF Coast Guard,” he said.

According to Shujau, this includes 344 kilos of crystal meth and 124.6 kilos of cocaine.

The street value of the drugs is estimated to be MVR 1 billion.

When questioned by reporters, Shujau declined to comment on whether the police have linked the drug shipment to a known Maldivian drug network, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

In a post on X following the press conference, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said that completely freeing the Maldives from drugs is one of his administration’s top priorities.

“I thank the law enforcement agencies for their hard work on this front!” he said.

މިއަދުގެ ވަގުތެއްގައި ރާއްޖޭގެ ސަލާމަތީ ޚިދުމަތްތަކުންވަނީ 468.6 ކިލޯގްރާމުގެ މަސްތުވާތަކެތި ރާއްޖޭގެ ކަނޑުގެ ސަރަހައްދުން އަތުލައިގެންފައި. މިތަކެތީގެ މަގުމަތީ އަގަކީ ގާތްގަނޑަކަށް އެއް ބިލިއަން ދިވެހި ރުފިޔާ. ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ މަސްތުވާތަކެތިން އެއްކޮށް ސަލާމަތްކުރުމަކީ އަޅުގަނޑުމެން… pic.twitter.com/hL8Oz2tg9u

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) November 24, 2024

The case is under investigation by Drug Enforcement and the Kulhudhuffushi City Police.