News Desk
MALE’, Maldives — In a major blow to drug trafficking, the Maldives Customs Service seized 18 kilograms of cannabinoid oil hidden in plastic pots, following a tip-off that led to a meticulously planned operation. The illicit cargo, valued at approximately 26 million Maldivian rufiyaa ($1.7 million), arrived on a flight from Bangalore, India, officials said on Wednesday.
Customs authorities discovered the drugs concealed in 33 packets, which tests confirmed to be high-potency cannabinoid oil, a substance increasingly targeted in the region’s growing black market. The operation, described as one of the most successful in recent years, underscores the Maldives’ intensifying efforts to curb the flow of narcotics through its borders.
Home Minister Ali Ihsan praised the customs team for their “valuable hard work” in upholding stringent border controls, aligning with directives from President Mohamed Muizzu. “We are dismantling the environment that enables drug traffickers and ensuring the law takes its course,” Mr. Ihsan said in a statement, signaling a broader crackdown on smuggling networks.
The seizure comes as the Maldives grapples with the social and economic toll of drug trafficking. Authorities have vowed to bolster intelligence-driven operations to prevent the archipelago from becoming a transit hub for narcotics in the Indian Ocean.
Officials have not released details about arrests or suspects linked to the seizure, but the investigation is ongoing. For now, the operation stands as a testament to the customs service’s vigilance in a region where drug routes are as fluid as the surrounding seas.
