Maldives Police, on Friday, were seen patrolling with their Canine Unit on the beaches of reclaimed suburb Hulhumale, to uncover persons harbouring illicit substances.
According to a police media spokesperson, Drug Enforcement Department is conducting a routine operation to snuff out alcohol and drug use n the area.
No further details were given on the matter.
Local outlet Mihaaru news described the area as being frequented by youth that engages in drug use, adding that recently, there has been an increase in parties across the city area as well as overdoses and deaths related to drug abuse.
However, most recent drug operations resulted in arrests made at shared homes, small cafes and abandoned buildings.
Since the ongoing COVID19 pandemic first emerged in Maldives, many have reported an increase in the number of addicts and recreational drug users across the country.
Throughout the lockdown, the government also sent home a number of recovering addicts from state rehabilitation facilities and jails, in a move explained by officials as an effort to reduce the spread of infection.
At present, a total of 648 individuals are currently on the waiting list after requesting to begin rehabilitation programmes, per local media.
Early December, during an ongoing large-scale operation to catch suspected drug users and distributors, police arrested 60 foreign nationals hailing from Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh.
Every year, authorities launch special operations late December to halt drug and alcohol-fuelled celebration.
Maldives Police Service has made several successful drug busts, seizing significant amounts of illegal alcohol and other substances during previous New Year operations.
In 2013, the National Drug Use Survey estimated that there were 7,500 drug users in the Maldives, of which the major of users were between 15-24 years old. Approximately 200 drug users in Malé, and 300 in the rest of the country, were found to be injecting drug users; making them particularly vulnerable to the spread of blood-borne diseases like HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.
Though little research was publicised since, experts continue to surmise that figures are still on the rise, along with that of associated risks.
A number of people have attributed to the high incidence of relapse, to poor rehabilitation facilities and programs, along with prevailing social stigma and lack of access to counselling that covers job prospects, assists with living situations and so forth.
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