On Sunday 20th October, the Maldives Customs Service released a map showing the routes to the Maldives for drug trafficking.
According to a customs tweet, the data included on the map shows the routes of drugs intercepted during the time between 2013 and 2018 when they were smuggled into the Maldives via sea and air, including postal services.
The chart shows that Asian countries have imported the highest number of illegal narcotics Drugs that have been trafficked from 10 countries in Asia including Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Iran, the UAE, Qatar Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.
The map shows origins & routes of drugs seized as they were smuggled in to Maldives via sea & air, including postal service during the period of 2013-2018.
Where there is access to trade, so are potential for drugs squeezing through. We shall remain watchful and steadfast. pic.twitter.com/HLos7Cn7Oj
— Maldives Customs (@CustomsMv) October 20, 2019
Five European countries including the United Kingdom (UK), Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, and Germany have also been trafficked with illegal substances.
In contrast to the South American countries Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago, drugs were also smuggled from African countries such as Ethiopia, Togo, and Benin.
Recently, customs detained several drug traffickers and intercepted a ship from Pakistan attempting to smuggle 70 kilograms of illegal narcotics. A team from Interpol is currently investigating the matter with the assistance of the Maldives Police Service.
