The Maldives Police Service has successfully carried out a special anti-drug operation in Fuvahmulah City. The operation, titled Operation Veshi Rakkal, commenced on January 14, 2024 and has yielded significant results.

On Tuesday, the Maldives Police Service revealed that the operation led to the investigation of 4,048 hotspots, the questioning of 1,147 individuals, and the arrest of 58 suspects. Among them, charges against 75 individuals were reviewed, with investigations into 65 cases completed and submitted to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

The operation also uncovered networks of individuals suspected of involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering. Among them, two individuals were arrested under court orders for suspected money laundering activities.

One suspect was found to have conducted bank transactions amounting to over MVR 21 million over the past five years, while the second individual’s transactions totalled more than MVR 7 million in the past two years.

In response to these findings, Police have launched further investigations into allegations of money laundering, which involve 21 individuals and 2 companies.

The Maldives Police Service has expressed its gratitude to the residents of Fuvahmulah City for their unwavering support during the operation, emphasising the importance of community cooperation in combating drug-related crimes.