Drugs with an estimated street value of MVR 5.6 million have been seized in an attempted sea smuggling operation at the Malé Commercial Harbour, the Maldives Customs Service (MCS) has said.

Customs said officers intercepted more than 3.1 kilogrammes of synthetic cathinone during a special operation carried out on Thursday.  The operation was conducted at the Malé Commercial Harbour, where Customs officers recovered the narcotics as part of ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking.

The seizure follows another major Customs operation last week in which more than 5.5 kilogrammes of drugs with an estimated street value of MVR 4.4 million were intercepted after being smuggled into the Maldives by air.