MVR 2 mil worth drugs nabbed from Pakistani arrival

Drugs valued at MVR 2 million were seized from a Pakistani arrival last week by local authorities.

The drugs were taken from a Pakistani national who arrived last Wednesday, Superintendent of Police Mohamed Afzal stated at a press conference conference held on Saturday by the Maldives Police Service and Maldives Customs Service.

Preliminary tests show the confiscated item is heroin. added.

“The gross weight, including packing, is around 2.12 kilogram. Upon additional inquiry, we learned the passenger traveled from Abu Dhabi route to Male’,” Afzal continued and said, “the street value of the item is around MVR 2,120,000.”

Chief Inspector Ahmed Waheed, who leads the Trafficking Investigation of Police confirms the authority has arrested two Maldivian citizens, two local men aged 25 and 40 years, in suspected ties to the case.

Both local men and the Pakistani suspect received 15 days of remand.

“Our investigations have also led us to learn the involvement of of Maldivian locals, either stationed in the country or aboard, who are well connected to these trafficking rings,” Afzal said.

Afzal further confirms the two locals arrested for suspected involvement hold multiple priors, while investigation is underway to identify other potential suspects in the same case. He added the identities of the rest cannot be disclosed since investigation is still ongoing.

There have been several instances, reported in the past, of Maldivians running trafficking rings with help from foreigners. There had been allegations of the involvement of airport employees in drug trafficking activities, with a few of them arrested previously.