Two Indian men were arrested at the Velana International Airport (VIA) on Friday (March 20) for allegedly smuggling more than six kilograms of drugs into the Maldives.

Police said the suspects were Yutish Raj Rajan, 27, and Ishwarmurithi Shanmugam, 24. Customs found drugs in their luggage and handed them over to the police for investigation.

They were remanded in custody for 15 days after being summoned to court.

Yutish Raj Rajan told the court that he had come to the Maldives as a tourist and did not know what was in his luggage.

Ishwarmurithi Shanmugam told the court that he was visiting on the invitation of a friend. He said he travelled at the request of Yutish Raj Rajan.

On the same day, Customs seized more than 11 kilograms of drugs smuggled into the country by air. It is unclear whether anyone was arrested in connection with the case.

The seized drugs included more than five kilograms of cannabis leaves and more than six kilograms of hashish oil, with a street value of more than MVR 9.6 million, Customs said.