Rs 17 crore drugs bound for Maldives seized

Drugs worth more than Rs 18 crore have been seized in two operations in Tamil Nadu, including hashish oil valued at Rs 17 crore (MVR 27 million) that was allegedly being smuggled to the Maldives by sea.

According to Indian media reports, 67 kg of hashish oil was seized in Tuticorin, and four men from the district have been arrested. Police said the seizure followed an intelligence operation conducted after a tip-off that narcotics were being moved for cross-border trafficking.

Investigations revealed that the consignment had been transported to Tuticorin in a car from Coimbatore on Monday. The suspects had allegedly planned to send the haul to the Maldives by sea. Police also seized the vehicle used to transport the drugs.

The case is being investigated under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Officers said the arrested suspects are being questioned to determine the origin of the hashish oil and identify members of the international network believed to be handling the consignment in the Maldives.

Indian nationals have been arrested multiple times in recent years for attempting to smuggle drugs into the Maldives. In April this year, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) issued a special advisory to Indian travellers, noting that Maldives has tightened its drug laws and continues to arrest foreigners, including Indian citizens, in narcotics cases.