Maldives Customs Service has stated that more than one kilogram of illegal drugs being smuggled into the country by air has been seized.

The drugs were confiscated during two separate operations carried out at Velana International Airport on the 14th and 17th of this month.

The seized substances were identified as heroin. In the operation conducted on the 14th, 31 grams of heroin were recovered, while a further 1,820 grams were seized during the operation on the 17th.

Customs said the street value of the seized drugs exceeds MVR 1.9 million.

The authority added that special operations are ongoing to prevent the smuggling of illegal drugs into the Maldives.