Police launch counterdrug operation in Hinnavaru and Naifaru

Maldives Police Service, on Wednesday, has launched a counterdrug operation in Lhaviyani Atoll Hinnavaru and Naifaru.

In a message to the media, the counterdrug operation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Department in collaboration with North Police, adding further information will be shared upon completion of the operation.

Police conduct counterdrug operations intermittently which on occasion have seen the seizure of large numbers of drugs.

Notably, Home Ministry has drafted an amendment to the Drug Act which states death penalty as the punishment for trafficking over 500 grams of drugs.

The Drug Act presently cites life imprisonment as the maximum punishment for drug traffickers and a fine between an amount of MVR 100,000 and MVR 10 million.

Currently, murder is the only crime with death penalty as punishment in the Maldives. This marks the first a government has proposed such a harsh punishment in drug-related cases.