The Maldives Police Service (MPS) announced a major breakthrough Thursday in the fight against narcotics, confirming that around 100 individuals have been arrested across the archipelago during the highly coordinated anti-drug initiative, ‘Operation Alimagu.’
Launched under the direct order of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, the operation was aimed at dismantling established drug networks and tackle the growing drug epidemic through aggressive enforcement and tracking.
Operation Alimagu, described by authorities as the most extensive anti-drug push in recent Maldivian history, commenced in the early hours of Thursday morning, utilising a force of nearly 500 police officers deployed simultaneously across the country. The operation specifically targeted known drug smugglers and traffickers, spanning nearly every populated island and settlement.
Chief Inspector of Police Ahmed Naif, Head of Drugs and Substance Abuse Control, provided specific details on the scope and efficiency of the raids.
"Since the operation started at 5:30 this morning, so far 100 people have been arrested," Naif told PSM News.
He added that of the 104 locations scheduled for search warrants, 90 percent had been raided by 10:00 am, confirming that all but a few places across the nation had been searched with the operation still ongoing.
Naif confirmed that the operation has yielded significant seizures of illicit substances and materials essential to the trafficking trade.
"We have so far recovered a large amount of drugs in the ongoing operation. Among them are heroin, cannabis and methamphetamine and various synthetic drugs," he detailed.
Authorities also recovered substantial amounts of cash and drug packaging materials from the suspects. Police credited the operation’s success largely to the vital cooperation and intelligence received directly from the public, underscoring the government’s sustained commitment to eradicate drug trafficking networks.