Maldives Customs have seized three shipments of drugs being smuggled into the Maldives via courier and air cargo.
According to customs, the first shipment was seized on September 27, after a package sent to the Maldives from Germany through courier service was searched and suspected drugs were found inside. The items tested positive for mephedrone and weighed a total of 2,250 grams, including packaging, customs said.
On October 5, another shipment, an air cargo delivery from India, was flagged for suspicion of containing drugs. Further examination uncovered packets of drugs concealed within electronic devices across five cartons. These items tested positive for heroin, with a combined weight of 3,040 grams and an estimated street value of MVR 3.8 million.
Customs seized the third shipment of drugs during a further search of an air cargo shipment that arrived in the Maldives from Thailand on October 7. The contents tested positive for heroin, and the total weight of the drugs, including packaging, was 3,550 grams, with an estimated street value of MVR 4.2 million.
The drugs have been handed over to police for further investigation, customs said. It is not clear if any arrests have been made in the cases.
