2 arrested in Malé city drug bust with 18 bottles of alcohol

Two individuals have been apprehended in connection with a significant drug operation conducted in Malé city on Wednesday evening.

Police stated that the operation was carried out in relation to an alleged case involving the possession, use, and trafficking of illicit drugs, as well as the unlawful possession, sale, and trafficking of alcoholic beverages.

In a coordinated effort by the Drug Enforcement and Counter Narcotics Intelligence units, Ali Sham (29) from L. Gan and Ali Aufan (20) from H.A. Hoarafushi were taken into custody.

The arrests were made based on intelligence received by Counter Narcotics Intelligence.

Acting on the received tip-off, the two individuals were apprehended on Wednesday evening after they were intercepted and subjected to a search while riding a motorcycle within Malé city. 

Authorities impounded the motorcycle used by the individuals and conducted a search of their Malé city residence. The search yielded a film canister containing 17.06 grams of a substance suspected to be illicit drugs, 18 500-ml bottles of alcohol, an additional five-liter bottle, and various items indicative of the production of alcoholic beverages.

They were presented before court and ordered to be remanded in custody for a period of seven days.

The case is currently under investigation by Drug Enforcement.