A Brazilian man and a Maldivian national have been arrested in connection with a significant drug smuggling attempt in the Maldives.

The duo, aged 44 and 39, were remanded in custody following their arrest in a controlled delivery operation.

The Brazilian national, whose identity has not been disclosed, is accused of attempting to smuggle drugs into the country by concealing them within his body. Authorities seized a total of 107 bullets containing narcotics during the operation, with the preliminary weight of the drugs estimated to be over one kilogram.

The Maldivian suspect, identified as Ahmed Hussain Farushan, is believed to have played a role in receiving the drugs once they had been smuggled into the country. He is suspected of being involved in the possession, use, and sale of the drugs.

The court order indicated that the smuggling attempt was likely part of a larger, planned operation orchestrated by a criminal organisation. Evidence against both men has been presented, including statements from police officers who attended the scene.

In the case of Farushan, the court noted that a urine test conducted on him returned positive for AMP, a known narcotic. This finding, along with the police statements and other evidence, led the court to consider him a potential threat to society. Consequently, he was remanded in custody, with the court deeming the evidence sufficient to proceed with the case.

For the Brazilian suspect, the evidence includes a case handover form from the Maldives Customs Service, a CT scan report, and photos and videos showing the drugs concealed in his body. These materials were crucial in securing his detention.

Both suspects have been remanded for five days, with their detention set to expire on Friday.

The investigation into the smuggling operation continues, with authorities working to uncover any further links to organised crime in the region.