Police have arrested three people and seized narcotic drugs worth an estimated street value of MVR7.5 million.
The drugs were discovered hidden onboard a cargo vessel arrived in Male from Tuticorin, India in an operation conducted jointly by Maldives Police Service and Maldives Custom Service.
Under the operation, launched following a tip off, the vessel was intercepted near Feydhoo Finolhu, and the ensuing search yielded 1.1 kilograms of heroin and 8.5 kilograms of cannabis.
The drugs were hidden inside a putty container.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Deputy Head Inspector of Police of the Drug enforcement Department of Maldives police Service Aminath Suzi said all three people arrested in the operation are Maldivians.
Chief Superintendent of Maldives Customs Services Ismail Hamdhoon said the operation was launched following intelligence information of the attempt to smuggle a large amount of drugs from India.