Customs foils another drug case

miadhu
Maldives customs have foiled another attempt to smuggle drugs in to the country just 24 hours after it busted an attempt and seized more than one kilogram of illegal drugs from a foreign national last Sunday.

At a media briefing held at Maldives Customs Building, Regional Director of Intelligence and Investigations Fathih Ali said large number of illegal drugs was seized from a Maldivian arriving on Maldivian 2701 flight on Tuesday. Fathih said the drugs were discovered by customs officers working at Male’ International Airport concealed in cardboard box. Fathih said the Maldivian who arrived from Trivandrum is 26 years of age. Fathih said during the screening process by customs officers a packet containing 520 grams of heroin was discovered inside a cardboard box brought by the Maldivian.

According to Fathih, the drugs the seized on 14 of this month from a foreign national and drugs seized from the Maldivian on Tuesday was packed and concealed in the same manner.

“From the way the drugs were packed and concealed, we can deduce those behind the 2 foiled attempts were working together or the same” Fathih said.

Fathih revealed the sides of the cardboard box, containing fruits and vegetables, was cut open and packet containing illegal drugs was put inside and the sides were then carefully sealed using some kind of sticky glue to conceal the drugs.

Fathih also said under normal circumstances, Trivandrum Airport does a through security check on passengers and that the reason why the concealed drug were not discovered was because large amounts of carbon papers were used in the packing as an attempt to conceal it.