Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll Police have arrested two men from Fuvahmulah suspected of operating as key figures in an illicit narcotics importation and trafficking network.

Police stated today that as part of operations ongoing since July this year to counter drug importation and trafficking, a joint raid was conducted on Thursday of last week by the Upper South Police Counter Narcotics Operations team, GDh. Thinadhoo Police Station, and Counter Narcotics Intelligence.

Acting under a court warrant, officers searched the residence "Mirrihigey" in GDh. Thinadhoo on suspicion of large-scale drug smuggling and trafficking, arresting two men at the scene.

Those taken into custody are:

Mohamed Sanaau (31), Dhonaadu, Gn. Fuvahmulah

Ibrahim Nuaas (30), Kemee, Gn. Fuvahmulah

"Both individuals are suspected of acting in key leadership roles within this network. When presented before the court for a remand hearing, they were remanded in custody for 10 days. Items recovered from the searched residence included rubber sheets containing suspected narcotics weighing 107.72 grams, as well as packets containing suspected narcotics weighing 31.25 grams," police confirmed.

Police stated that the provisional combined weight of the seized narcotics totaled 138.97 grams. Two additional houses were also searched during the operation, with the investigation currently being pursued jointly by Thinadhoo Police and the Crime Investigation Cell.