Two men from Gaafu Alifu Villingili have been arrested for allegedly trafficking drugs using children, police said.

The suspects have been identified as Mohamed Athoof Habeeb, 25, of Athens, and Mohamed Raif Hussain, 20, of Dhethandimaage.

Police said the arrests were made during a joint operation by Villingili Police and Counter Narcotics Intelligence, targeting individuals involved in the sale of drugs through minors.

During the operation, four houses on the island were searched, with a total of 66.92 grams of drugs recovered, including 53.91 grams of “brown sugar” and 13.01 grams of methamphetamine, police said.

The suspects were presented before court, which ordered Athoof to be remanded in custody for 15 days and Raif for 10 days.

Police said the operation was conducted under recent amendments to the Narcotics Act and provisions of the Child Rights Protection Act, aimed at preventing the exploitation of children in drug-related offences and diverting minors away from such activity.