Customs intercept cannabis shipment at VIA

Maldives Customs Service has seized 450 grams of cannabis at Velana International Airport (VIA), smuggled into the country by air.

Customs said the drugs were found in the luggage of an Indian passenger who arrived in Maldives from India on the 5th of this month. The items were discovered during a search conducted on suspicion that the passenger was carrying drugs.

The seizure comes days after Customs confiscated 800 vape cartridges on August 3. Last month, Customs also arrested a man for attempting to smuggle drugs worth MVR 2.9 million into the country.

Authorities say drug smuggling and trafficking have increased significantly in recent years, prompting multiple operations to curb the entry of narcotics into Maldives. Customs and police continue to conduct border patrols and intelligence-led operations to prevent drugs from entering the country.

Maldives faces major challenges in addressing drug-related issues, including the difficulty of closing smuggling routes due to the country’s geography and the limited capacity of rehabilitation centers compared to the number of people seeking treatment. High rates of reoffending due to inadequate social and economic support after treatment also remain a concern.

The government and relevant agencies are working to strengthen border security, reform laws and improve treatment systems to find long-term solutions to the drug problem.