A hefty amount of money and drugs has been seized in a major drug operation conducted in two atolls of the Maldives.

Teams from the Maldives Police Service (MPS) commenced an operation across Noonu and Lhaviyani atolls on September 11 days that proceeded for three days.

Details of the operation were disclosed during a press conference hosted on Wednesday.

Head of MPS’s Drug Enforcement Department (DED), Superintendent of Police Nahidh Hussain revealed that officers raided a total of nine locations in Hinnavaru island as part of the operation.

Six were arrested in connection with the raid.

Three were arrested during an operation conducted in two locations of Naifaru island as well.

11 locations were raided in Lhaviyani atoll and nine were taken into police custody.

As part of this operation, a drug trafficking network was uncovered.

More than 86 grams of drugs were seized as part of the operation alongside more than MVR 200,000 in cash.

Shedding light on the operation conducted in Noonu atoll, Nahidh said that nine residences were searched and nine people were taken into custody in this operation.

He added that 1.5 grams of drugs were seized, and more than MVR 100,000 was uncovered as well.

Nahidh also unveiled the identities of individuals involved in widespread drug trafficking in Velidhoo island; Ahmed Murushid, 35, Ali Rasheed, 30, Ahmed Naushad, 28, Abdulla Nishadh, 26.

According to the police institution, both operations were successful.

Further investigations are currently underway in connection with the operations.