The Maldives Customs Service has seized drugs valued at over MVR 7 million, intended to be smuggled into the country.

The discovery was made during additional inspections of packages brought in via luggage and postal deliveries.

On October 5, a 33-year-old woman arriving from Brazil was suspected of carrying drugs in her luggage. Upon further examination, a suspicious substance was uncovered. The seized drugs, weighing a total of 2.44 kilograms (including packaging), were estimated to have a street value of MVR 6.1 million.

Customs officials revealed that the substance was found to be cocaine after lab tests.

In a separate incident, earlier this week, a suspicious package sent via post was intercepted. Customs authorities found it contained narcotics, later confirmed to be heroin. The package weighed 1.04 kilograms (including packaging) and was valued at MVR 1.04 million.

In total, 3.48 kilograms of drugs were seized in these cases. A 40-year-old Maldivian man, who came to customs in connection with the seized drugs, along with the Brazilian passenger and the package, have all been handed over to the police for further investigation.