More Than Half a Tonne of Drugs Seized in Smuggling Attempts Since 2021, Customs Data Reveals
Photo: Maldives Customs
The Maldives Customs Service seized 571 kilograms of narcotics in 263 smuggling cases between 2021 and June 2026, according to newly released statistics.
The figures, published by Customs yesterday, show that 247 kilograms of narcotics were confiscated in 116 cases between 2021 and the end of 2023.
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From the beginning of 2024 to June 2026, Customs seized a further 324 kilograms of narcotics across 147 cases.
According to Customs, the number of drug seizure cases during the 2024 to mid-2026 period increased by 27 per cent compared with the 2021–2023 period. The total weight of drugs seized also rose by 31 per cent over the same timeframe.
2019 އިން 2023 (5 އަހަރު) އަށް އަތުލެވުނު މަސްތުވާތަކެއްޗާ އަޅާބަލާއިރު، މިދިޔަ 2.5 އަހަރުގެ މުއްދަތުގަައި އަތުލެވުނު މަސްތުވާތަކެތީގެ މިންވަރު އިތުރު! pic.twitter.com/6UjLGLrCQg— Maldives Customs Service (@CustomsMv) June 29, 2026
Customs presented the data on the seized drugs in two different timelines; one set of data from 2021-2023 and another from 2024-2026. While they did not provide a specific reason for presenting the amounts in different periods, it is presumed to differentiate between the current and previous administrations.
The statistics further show that the quantity of narcotics intercepted over the past two and a half years exceeded the amount seized during the five-year period from 2019 to 2023, indicating a continued rise in drug smuggling attempts and enforcement activity.
Customs did not provide a breakdown of the types of narcotics seized or their countries of origin in the released figures.
