Drugs with an estimated street value of MVR 72.2 million were seized by the Maldives Police Service and Maldives Customs Service during the first one and a half months of this year, according to Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan.

Speaking at a press conference held at the President’s Office, the minister said that 83,450 grams (83.45 kilograms) of narcotics had been confiscated so far this year through intelligence-led operations and strengthened border security efforts.

Minister Ihusaan noted that 72 kilograms of the seized drugs were intercepted by Maldives Customs Service while attempts were made to smuggle them into the country via air and sea routes. The drugs seized by Customs alone had an estimated street value of MVR 59 million, he said.

According to the minister, the narcotics were confiscated in eight separate cases, reflecting increased enforcement activities aimed at curbing drug smuggling into the Maldives.

He stated that addressing the country’s drug problem has been identified as one of the key priorities of the current Administration since assuming office, with authorities intensifying efforts to prevent the entry and distribution of narcotics.

Minister Ihusaan also revealed that law enforcement agencies are working with international partners, including Interpol, to identify networks involved in drug trafficking and to determine the origins and destinations of narcotics being smuggled into the Maldives. Authorities have also identified three Maldivians believed to be involved in overseas drug trafficking, and efforts are underway to bring them back to the country.

In addition to narcotics, enforcement agencies have also seized other illegal items during recent operations. Over the past one and a half months, authorities confiscated 7,000 vape sticks and approximately 2 million cigarettes that were illegally imported into the country.

The minister added that the Government is pursuing a two-pronged strategy to tackle the drug issue, focusing both on preventing the smuggling of narcotics into the Maldives and strengthening efforts to reduce drug distribution within the country.