Authorities Seize 83kg of Drugs, 7,000 Vapes and 2 Million Cigarettes in Six Weeks

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, said the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and the Maldives Customs Service had seized over 83 kg of drugs, 7,000 vapes, and 2 million cigarettes in the past one and a half months.

Speaking at a press conference held at the President’s Office today, Ihusaan outlined efforts by authorities to reduce the inflow of illicit drugs into the country. He said both MPS and Customs have been working intensively to prevent drugs from entering the Maldives.

The minister stated that a total of 83.45 kilogrammes of drugs had been seized during the period, with an estimated street value of MVR 72.2 million.

“From the previous amount I had disclosed about the drugs seized, 72 kg of drugs were seized from eight different cases; Customs had seized them when the drugs were being smuggled in via land, air, or sea routes,” he said.

According to Ihusaan, the drugs seized by Customs alone were valued at approximately MVR 59 million.

In addition to the drugs, Customs also seized around 7,000 vapes and two million cigarettes during the same period.

Ihusaan said the current administration had pledged to pursue a long-term solution to the country’s drug problem and emphasised that enforcement efforts were ongoing.

Responding to a question from a journalist, the minister said police are working with Interpol and authorities in other countries to locate and arrest three Maldivians previously identified in connection with drug-related cases and bring them back to the Maldives.

He added that authorities are continuing further analysis to identify the origins of drugs entering the country, noting that investigations have not yet determined their source with complete certainty.