Malé, Maldives – Drugs worth MVR 6.5 million were seized from the luggage of a woman who arrived in Maldives by air this week.
Customs said in a statement yesterday that the items were seized from the luggage of a 23-year-old Brazilian woman who arrived in Maldives via Doha, Qatar.
Customs statement read that the drugs were found during a search of the passenger’s luggage on suspicion of containing drugs.
The arrested woman was deported in accordance with the rules on how to deal with foreigners suspected of smuggling drugs into Maldives, which came into force this year, customs said.
“In accordance with the rules, in consultation with the enforcement agencies, Immigration has deported [the woman],” the customs said in a statement.
The seized items were initially analyzed and tested positive for cocaine, customs said. The drugs weighed 2.6 kg and had a street value of MVR 6.5 million, the agency said.
Customs added that the drugs seized from the Brazilian woman’s luggage have now been handed over to police.
