Maldives Police Service has announced the arrest of 16 suspects in a foiled drug smuggling attempt via sea in an operation carried out before ‘Alimagu’, a nationwide counterdrug operation launched on Thursday.
‘Operation Alimagu’ commenced with the participation of 500 officers at 5:30am early Thursday morning. The commencement of the operation was announced by President Muizzu via a post on X.
In a statement to the media on Friday, Police said that its Drug Enforcement Department, Counter Narcotics Intelligence, and South Police conducted a joint special operation in the Gaafu Alifu and Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll region from November 2nd to November 13, following a tip-off to Police Intelligence about an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of drugs into the Maldives by sea.
The Police said they arrested 16 individuals in connection with the case:
Seven men and a woman from Gaafu Alifu Maamendhoo
Five men from Gaafu Dhaalu Vaadhoo
Three men from Male’
The Police identified the suspects as men aged between 27 and 46 and a woman aged 24.
When 11 suspects were presented before the Court, three were remanded in custody for 30 days, six for 15 days, one for 18 days, and one for 10 days.
The Police detailed that they searched 18 houses, a guesthouse, an office, an uninhabited island, two empty land plots, two cars and five motorbikes as part of the operation. They placed the preliminary weight of the drugs seized in the operation at 12 kilograms.
The authority added that the case is under further investigation.
According to the Police, the locations in this operation were searched in light of information gathered for Operation Alimagu. The Police said the operation was carried out ahead of Alimagu due to likely negative impacts on the nationwide operation and the possibility of the risk of evidence being destroyed based on intelligence information received.
 
Operation Alimagu is described as the most extensive anti-drug campaign in recent years. A total of 90 suspects were arrested mere seven hours into the operation.