Customs has seized 8.840 kilos of drugs that were attempted to be imported into the Maldives through courier and air cargo.

October 21, 2023

Customs has seized 3 shipments of drugs that were attempted to be imported into the Maldives through courier and air cargo.

The first shipment was seized on September 27, 2023, while inspecting a package brought to the Maldives from Germany via courier service. Suspicious powder was found during the check, leading to further inspection. Initial testing of these substances showed positive results for Mephedrone. The total weight of these substances, including packaging, was 2250 grams.

Additionally, on October 5, 2023, an air cargo shipment from India was suspected of concealing drugs. Upon further inspection, packets of drugs were found hidden inside electronic devices in a total of 5 packages within the shipment. Initial testing by Customs showed positive results for Heroin. The total weight of these substances, including packaging, was 3040 grams, with an estimated street value of 3.8 million Rufiyaa.

The third shipment containing narcotics was seized during an additional inspection after suspicions arose about drugs being concealed in an air cargo shipment that arrived in the Maldives from Thailand on October 07, 2023. In the initial stage of analysis, these substances tested positive for heroin. The total weight of the substances, including packaging, was 3550 grams, and the estimated street value is around 4.2 million Rufiyaa.

For further investigation of these cases, the seized narcotics have now been handed over to the Maldives Police Service.