Gov to submit drug bill this week; new gang bill in two weeks

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday announced imminent plans by his administration to submit legislature to address two of the biggest social issues facing the Maldives – drug trafficking and organized crime.

In a post on X on Tuesday afternoon, President Muizzu named the loopholes in the existing Drugs Act as the biggest challenge in the fight to save the Maldives from the scourge of drugs.

 He said that the government has drafted amendments following a review of the Drugs Act, that are designed to remove the challenges in investigating and prosecuting drug cases.

He said that the amendments will be submitted to the Parliament “within this week.”

President Muizzu said that the new anti-gang crime bill formulated by the administration, which will replace the existing Anti-Gang Crime Act, will be submitted to the Parliament within two weeks.

President Muizzu noted the link between drug trafficking and gang crime.

“I sincerely thank the beloved people of Maldives for your cooperation in the efforts to provide a permanent solution to such major issues,” he said.

މަސްތުވާތަކެތީގެ ވަބާއިން ދިވެހި ޤައުމު ސަލާމަތްކުރުމަށް ދައުލަތުގެ އިދާރާތަކުން ކުރަމުން އަންނަ މަސައްކަތަށް އޮތް އެންމެ ބޮޑު އެއް ގޮންޖެހުމަކީ މިހާރު އަމަލުކުރަމުންދާ މަސްތުވާތަކެއްޗާބެހޭ ޤާނޫނުގައި ހުރި ބައެއް އުނިކަންކަން. އެހެންކަމުން، މަސްތުވާތަކެތީގެ މައްސަލަތައް…

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) November 26, 2024

The announcement comes after Maldivian authorities seized over 460 kilos of drugs worth an estimated MVR 1 billion from a Sri Lankan fishing boat off HDh. Makunudhoo on November 24.

In a post on X following the seizure of the large drug shipment, President Muizzu said that completely freeing the Maldives from drugs is one of his administration’s top priorities.

Back in August, Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan said that the new amendments to the Drugs Act will introduce the death penalty for trafficking more than 500 grams of drugs into the Maldives.

Tackling gang-related crimes had also been named by the administration as one of its top priorities.

In an interview to Sun earlier this month, Ihusan said that the administration plans to eradicate all major gangs in the Maldives.