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Customs seized 5.5 kilograms of drugs worth MVR 4.4 million from the luggage of two Indian nationals who arrived from India at Gan International Airport. The seizure comes amid a rise in drug smuggling cases and as the Maldives enforces stricter anti-drug laws with tougher penalties for traffickers.
Mariyam Adheela
Birds eye view of GAN International Airport -- Photo GIA
Maldives Customs Service has seized drugs valued at approximately MVR 4.4 million from the luggage of two passengers who arrived from India at Gan International Airport in Addu City.
According to Customs, the seizure was made on Saturday after officers searched the baggage of two Indian nationals. A total of 5.5 kilograms of suspected drugs was recovered during the operation. The case is now under further investigation.
The latest seizure comes amid a series of recent drug smuggling attempts involving passengers arriving from India. Last month, authorities arrested five people after 8.3 kilograms of drugs were allegedly smuggled into the Maldives through luggage carried on a flight from Bengaluru. Two Indian nationals remain in custody pending trial, while
Customs is also investigating another 30-year-old passenger who recently arrived from India with suspected narcotics.
Indian authorities have also raised concerns over the increasing use of international travel routes for drug trafficking. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has previously warned Maldivian authorities about attempts by transnational networks to smuggle narcotics into the country using passengers arriving from India.
