MVR 17M worth of drugs smuggled via air seized in two months

Maldives Customs Service has seized drugs worth MVR 17 million (USD 1,103,284.36) that were smuggled into the Maldives via air over the last two months.

In a post on social media platform X, Customs detailed the types of narcotics seized over the past two months. The seized drugs, weighing a total of 7.8 kilograms, include:

- 5670 grams of cocaine (2 April, 2024)

- 1690 grams of synthetic cathinone (5 May, 2024)

- 300 grams of heroin (25 May, 2024)

- 180 grams of synthetic cathinone (9 April, 2024)

The drugs were seized on various dates in April and May this year.

The drugs were seized during further searches of passengers arriving in Maldives by air and parcels brought to the country through courier following further investigation due to the presence of suspicious items, according to Customs.

The street value of the items is estimated to be around MVR 17.7 million (USD 1,148,713.72).

For further investigation of these cases, suspects involved in the cases and the drugs seized are currently under police custody, Customs said.