Customs seize MVR 4.4 million worth of drugs from two Indians at Gan airport

Customs have seized drugs worth MVR 4.4 million from the luggage of two Indian passengers who arrived in the Maldives via Gan International Airport in Addu.

The seizure was made on Saturday. According to Customs, officers recovered 5.5 kilograms of drugs from the luggage of the two passengers after a search was conducted on suspicion that they were carrying illegal substances.

Authorities say there has been a rise in cases involving drugs brought into the Maldives by passengers travelling from India.

In a separate case, Customs are investigating a 30-year-old Indian man who attempted to smuggle drugs hidden in the soles of his shoes. Earlier, on September 9, five people were arrested for trying to smuggle 8.3 kilograms of drugs by placing false bottoms in the luggage of passengers arriving from Bangalore. Police said two Indians have been remanded in custody pending trial, while three Maldivians are also involved in the case.

މަސްތުވާތަކެތި ރައްކާކޮށްގެން ގެނެސްފައިވާކަމަށް ޝައްކުކުރެވިގެން އެފަސިންޖަރުންގެ ލަގެޖް ބަލާފާސްކުރުމުގެ ތެރޭގައި.

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????ބަރުދަން: ޖުމްލަ 5540 ގްރާމް
????މަގުމަތީ އަގު: 4.4 މިލިއަން ދިވެހި ރުފިޔާ

— Maldives Customs Service (@CustomsMv) July 21, 2026

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has issued a special advisory to Maldivians, noting that Indians are increasingly among the foreigners attempting to smuggle drugs into the country.

Smuggling drugs into the Maldives is now a serious offence punishable by death. Under amendments to the Narcotics Act implemented in March, the death penalty applies to trafficking above specified quantities. The sentence can be enforced with unanimous agreement of Supreme Court judges. If the judges disagree, offenders may instead face life imprisonment along with fines ranging from MVR 100,000 to MVR 10 million.