Two foreign nationals have been arrested in Hulhumalé for the illegal possession of alcohol, according to the Maldives Police Service.

The suspects have been identified as 34-year-old Tak Bahadur Rilamy, a Nepali national, and 34-year-old Bahaaruddin, a Bangladeshi national.

Police stated that the men were intercepted around 10:00 pm while transporting a box of ice in a dinghy near the Reethigas Magu connecting bridge in Hulhumalé. Upon being approached, one of the suspects attempted to flee the scene.

Authorities arrested both individuals shortly after and recovered a total of 72 bottles of liquor from the box.

Police have confirmed that an investigation is underway.