Thirteen Corrections Officers have been arrested for allegedly assisting to smuggle banned items into prisons.

Police launched a massive operation on Thursday to nab corrections officials for allegedly helping to smuggle drugs and phones at Maafushi prison.

Speaking at a press conference held last night to inform about the operation, Assistant Commissioner of Police Abdulla Shareef said that 18 officers of the lower level of corrections were involved and MVR 73 million was deposited in their accounts.

Thirteen employees of the establishment have been arrested in connection with the ongoing operation related to corrections, police said today.

Of these, nine officers have been arrested from Maafushi. Two have been arrested from K. Kaashidhoo, one each from Utheemu and Male'.

Addressing a press conference last night, Shareef said that MVR 24 million has been deposited in the accounts of some of the 18 officers and a total of MVR 73.6 million has been deposited in the accounts of 18 officers since January last year.

Shareef said the money was deposited in the accounts of the officers from the accounts of the undertrials and various criminal elements in the city.

He said the bank could not identify the money as the money was deposited in the officers' accounts in small amounts.