Police seize 144kg of drugs in seven months

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) seized more than 144 kilograms of narcotics in the first seven months of 2026.

According to figures presented by the Drug Enforcement Department (DED) at a press briefing, police conducted 1,141 drug-related operations between January 1 and July 31, during which 23,249 individuals and 7,309 premises were searched.

A total of 144.341 kilograms of narcotics were seized during the operations, along with 1,856 bottles of alcohol.

Police investigated 1,533 drug-related cases during the period, with 634 cases forwarded to the Prosecutor General’s Office for prosecution.

The operations extended beyond the capital, with Counter-Narcotics Intelligence, the DED and officers stationed in the atolls conducting 260 intelligence-led operations across 17 atolls. These operations resulted in 298 arrests.

The DED alone conducted 377 investigations, of which 256 cases, or 67 percent, were submitted to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

The department seized 137.0296 kilograms of narcotics with an estimated street value of MVR 120.24 million. It also seized 845 bottles of alcohol valued at approximately MVR 960,900, bringing the total estimated value of items seized by the DED to MVR 121.2 million.

Police also identified 94 cases that met the criteria for drug trafficking. These investigations resulted in 147 arrests, with 83 cases, or 88 percent, forwarded to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

The police said the nationwide operations form part of an intelligence-led strategy to disrupt the distribution and trafficking of narcotics across the Maldives.