An Indian national has been seized at Addu Gan International Airport for attempting to smuggle more than 5 kilograms of drugs into Maldives via air. 

Customs stated today the 5.5 kilogram worth of drugs that was attempted to be smuggled in by flight was seized on Saturday.

Customs also said the drugs were found in the luggage of two passengers who were flying into Maldives from India.

According to Customs, the street value for the drugs would go up to MVR 4.4 million.

There is an ongoing investigation where there was an attempt to smuggle 8.3 kg of drugs by creating false bottoms and hiding them underneath the luggage of Indian nationals arriving in the Maldives from Bangalore. Five people have been arrested as of yet in the case, with three of them being Maldivians and two being Indians. The two Indian nationals have been placed under remand.

There is another ongoing drug investigation where a man was arrested for smuggling drugs into the country by concealing it in a pair of shoes. Customs officials found drugs concealed in a pair of tennis shoes in the 30-year old's luggage.

The Indian Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) sent out an advisory in April expressing the concern of an increase of Indian nationals out of the foreigners who have been smuggling drugs into Maldives.

Smuggling drugs into Maldives is now a crime punishable by death.