MALE, Feb 28 (HNS) - Police have arrested two people who had on them counterfeit dollar notes and narcotics.

Maldives Police Service said Monday that Ahmed Rasheed, 41, andAli Rifath, 38, were arrested from H. Extraheaven guesthouse Sunday night. They were arrested red-handed while in the act of selling drugs, under a covert operation following a report, police claimed.

Police Subinspector Abdullah Shareef said that when Rasheed was checked, 10 packets of heroin were found on him and drugs were found on Rifath as well.

Shareef said that 997 grams of drugs were found with the two and that some of the drugs were already packaged for sale.

He said that after Rifath was checked, Key Maldives operated by Rifath was also checked and that more drugs, counterfeit dollar notes and counterfeit currency paper were also found in a safe.

"Some amount of drugs were packed in plastic packets we on the street call ‘juice petty’ packets. More than 170 packets were made. Some packets were hidden in the safe in Key Maldives," Shareef said.

Shareef said that as of yet, it was unclear whether anyone else was involved in the crimes. However, he alleged that some foreigners might be involved.

"We are investigating the matter. However, the assistance of foreigners in the smuggling of drugs into Maldives is highly likely," he said.

He said that the two people arrested did not have previous drug-related crime records.