Drug bill with greater powers to law enforcement sent to committee

Legislature submitted by the government to amend the existing Drugs Act, giving law enforcement agencies more powers to tackle drug-related crimes, has been sent to the Parliament’s Judiciary Committee for review.

The bill, sponsored by Gan MP Yoosuf Nasheed, was accepted into the Parliament for consideration with a unanimous vote of 57 following a preliminary debate on Monday afternoon.

According to the government, the bill seeks to grant law enforcement agencies additional powers in order to combat a rise in drug trafficking, drug peddling and drug abuse in the Maldives.

It also seeks to improve the drug rehabilitation system so that drug addicts can be provided effective treatment and rejoin the society.

Key highlights:

• Introduction of a mechanism to control new drugs or substances that can be abused or cause addiction.
• Criminalization of additional drug-related offenses.
• Enhancement of the drug rehabilitation system.
• Revision of the functions of the Drug Court and policies on court-mandated drug rehab programs.
• More powers to law enforcement agencies to combat drug-related offenses.
• Revision of the policies on seizure and repossession of assets gained through criminal means.
• Additional amendments to strengthen law enforcement.

Some of the additional powers the bill grants are the power for customs officers to detain and search individual without a court warrant if there are probable grounds to believe an individual may have committed or is about to commit an offense declared in the Drugs Act.

The bill also grants the police more powers to make arrests and conduct searches without a court warrant.

Last month, President Dr. Mohamed 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.

The new bill was drafted by the Attorney General’s Office with input from the Homeland Security Ministry.