Two Foreigners Arrested in Malé Illegal Alcohol Bust

Two foreign nationals have been arrested in the capital following a joint counter-narcotics operation that seized a massive haul of illegal alcohol and suspected drugs.

The suspects, a 44-year-old Indian national and a 35-year-old Sri Lankan national, were taken into custody on October 1 during a coordinated raid by the Drug Enforcement Department and Counter Narcotics Intelligence.

advertisement

advertisement

Following their arrest, police searched a residential property in Malé, uncovering a large-scale bootlegging operation. Officers confiscated 1,677 bottles (500 ml) and 23 large containers (5 litres) of suspected alcohol, alongside two rubber packets containing suspected illicit drugs.

Authorities arrested the pair on charges of illegal possession, trade, and consumption of alcohol and narcotics. Following initial procedural checks, the Maldives Police Service handed both individuals over to Maldives Immigration for further administrative action and deportation under immigration laws, while the criminal investigation remains ongoing.

އެ މީހުން ހައްޔަރުކޮށް މާލޭ ގެއެއް ބަލައިފާސްކުރިއިރު ބަނގުރާކަމަށް ބެލެވޭ އެއްޗެއްހުރި 500 އެމްއެލްގެ 1677 ފުޅިއާއި، ބަނގުރާކަމަށް ބެލެވޭ އެއްޗެއްހުރި 5 ލީޓަރުގެ 23 ފުޅިއާއި، މަސްތުވާތަކެތިކަމަށް ބެލެވޭ އެއްޗެއްހުރި ދެ ރަބަރު ޕެކެޓު ފެނިފައިވެއެވެ. ⭕ އިތުރު ތަފުސީލު: https://t.co/4WjAKfefI2— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) October 4, 2026