President Solih: Will facilitate drug rehabilitation from islands

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih stated that the government has planned to provide arrangements for addicts to be able to receive treatment on their islands.

During the Presidential Address to re-open Parliament for 2022, President Solih revealed that the government has commenced building new treatment centres in areas where drug abuse is most widespread.

“We are running a remand centre for treating addicts and those arrested for drug-related crimes. We have also started building new treatment centres in areas where drug abuse is most widespread. With that, addicts can now receive treatment on their islands under the supervision of local councils and health centres by April.”

Noting that the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated existing drug problems, the President stated that drug trade is large, organized and runs at the international level.

“There are numerous challenges to curb the drug trade and close all doors leading to it. However, the Government will use all its resources to address the loopholes that buttress the drug trade. We have created a task force to deal with the issue, and God willing we will be seeing positive changes soon.”

As per the President, the halfway house for drug addicts was currently under construction, as well as begun developing human resources required. He added that once completed, these initiatives will help ease the issue of homeless addicts.

“The modern drug treatment centre that I mentioned during last year’s Presidential Address has now been completed in Hulhumeedhoo. We are currently undergoing final preparations before operationalizing the 60-person capacity centre. This February, we will implement a new rehabilitation program for prisoners.”

Under this administration, over 1.3 tons of drugs with a street value of over MVR 1.2 billion was confiscated through 330 operations.