Two Maldivian nationals have been arrested by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) in connection with the smuggling and distribution of a consignment of ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine) worth approximately Rs. 10 million during a special operation.

According to the police, a 40-year-old Maldivian national was arrested last night (22) at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) after arriving in the country with 602 grams of ‘Ice’, while a second suspect, believed to be a main distributor of the narcotic in Sri Lanka, was later arrested at a hotel in Colombo.

The operation was launched following intelligence received by the Deputy Director of the PNB that the 40-year-old suspect would be arriving in Sri Lanka from the Maldives carrying a consignment of ‘Ice’.

Acting on the information, a team of officers attached to the PNB headquarters in Colombo, together with officers of the PNB at the BIA, conducted surveillance near the baggage claim area of the airport's arrival terminal.

The suspect had arrived from Male at 12.15 p.m. yesterday aboard FitsAir flight 8D 922, officials said.

Police said a search revealed that he had concealed 602 grams of ‘Ice’ in two parcels taped around his genital area beneath his underwear and covered with a long shirt.

During interrogation, the suspect allegedly revealed that the narcotics had been brought into the country for delivery to the major trafficker distributing ‘Ice’ in Sri Lanka.

Based on the information obtained, PNB officers arrested the second suspect, a 28-year-old Maldivian national, at a hotel in Colombo later that night, officials said.

Officers attached to the PNB also recovered 10 grams and 670 milligrams of ‘Ice’ from the suspect at the time of his arrest.

Both suspects were produced before the Negombo Magistrate's Court today (23) and are scheduled to be detained for 14 days for further questioning.