Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan has said that over fifty drug dens have been identified in Male' in investigations so far, including abandoned government buildings.
Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan has said that over fifty drug dens have been identified in Male' in investigations so far, including abandoned government buildings.
The Minister made these remarks while speaking in today's meeting of the Parliament's Committee on National Security Services.
"Most of these are buildings that are vacant, abandoned houses," he said.
"These places have been entered into, taken videos of, and assessments done."
Ihusan said that permits have now been received to demolish three government buildings identified as being used as drug dens. A meeting will be held today with the Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works to discuss commencement of the demolition of these buildings.
The Minister said that permission is being sought from owners of private buildings being used in this manner to close them down.
"A permanent solution for this will be found once drug supply reduction work is done. We will submit [those bills] to the parliament in, at the most, a month," he said.
Ihusan believes that if these bills get passed, these issues can be solved within a period of six months.
Police have earlier run operations to shut down places in Male' where drugs are sold much like a cafe' operation. A number of places were shut down in that operation, with several people being detained. However, the issue remains unresolved.
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