Maldives Customs Service has intercepted a major drug smuggling attempt at Velana International Airport (VIA), seizing more than eight kilograms of hashish oil with an estimated street value of MVR 6 million.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Customs said the narcotics were discovered during an operation targeting illicit substances being brought into the country by air.
According to the authority, the seized contraband weighed approximately 8.5 kilograms. However, officials have not yet disclosed the country from which the drugs originated or whether any individuals have been arrested in connection with the case.
The seizure marks the latest in a series of significant drug interdictions carried out by Customs and other law enforcement agencies as authorities continue efforts to combat the flow of narcotics into the Maldives.
Drug trafficking remains one of the country’s most pressing law enforcement challenges, with authorities frequently intercepting large quantities of illegal substances at airports, seaports and through courier networks.
The latest seizure comes just weeks after Customs intercepted 941 grams of methamphetamine that was allegedly being smuggled into the Maldives by air. Officials estimated the street value of that shipment at approximately MVR 1.8 million.
Last year, authorities also uncovered one of the largest hashish oil smuggling attempts in recent memory when around 40 kilograms of the substance was intercepted after being concealed inside bottles labelled as chocolate syrup. The shipment had entered the country by sea, and two Maldivian men were arrested in connection with the case.
Hashish oil, a concentrated cannabis extract, is classified as a controlled substance under Maldivian law. Authorities have repeatedly warned that traffickers are increasingly using sophisticated concealment methods in attempts to evade detection.
Customs has not released further details regarding the latest case, but investigations are expected to continue in coordination with relevant law enforcement agencies.
The authority has previously stated that intelligence-led operations and enhanced screening measures at ports of entry have contributed to an increase in drug seizures in recent years.
With the latest operation preventing an estimated MVR 6 million worth of narcotics from reaching local streets, officials say efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks will continue.
