Six Bangladeshi nationals have been remanded for 10 days after being arrested while allegedly attempting to smuggle MVR 3.86 million in foreign currency out of the Maldives in violation of the law.

Police said the arrests were made during an operation conducted on Thursday based on information received by a task force established to investigate illegal foreign currency transactions. The six were stopped at Velana International Airport while preparing to travel to Bangladesh.

The Criminal Court yesterday ordered all six to remain in custody for 10 days.

Police said the money was found in their luggage and had been concealed in serial packets. The suspects gave different explanations for their presence at the airport and the luggage, including that they had gone to send someone off or receive someone, while some claimed the luggage had been given to them by others.

Authorities are investigating the case as part of ongoing efforts to identify individuals involved in illegal foreign currency transactions and take legal action.