Authorities shut down over 40 'drug cafés'

Maldivian authorities have shut down over 40 locations out of which 'drug cafés' were being operated.

In a press conference held today, Maldives Police Services' head of Drug Enforcement Department Superintendent of Police Nahid Hussain said that they were shutting down locations which serve drugs in a café setting.

As part of this effort, a total of 48 places have now been shutdown as surveillance is being carried out on other suspected locations, he said.

Police previously shut down such cafés as well. However, activities resumed at some point.

As part of ongoing efforts to address the drug situation, authorities have referred 49 individuals—those begging on the streets to buy drugs and repeat offenders with substance use disorders—to the National Drug Agency (NDA) for treatment.

Nahid added that a total of 683 drug-related cases have been submitted so far, with investigations completed on 345 cases, which have been sent for prosecution. He also noted that 22 people have been convicted of drug trafficking in 19 cases.

According to Police, 1,009 individuals have been arrested in relation to these cases, and 12,561 individuals were searched. In total Police conducted 158 anti-drug operations, out of which 12 were within the atolls.

So far, authorities have also seized over 183 kilograms of drugs and over 8,400 alcohol bottles, including those imported into the country and those confiscated from various operations. The street value of these products are estimated to be upwards of MVR 385 million.

Police also handed over 142 foreigners in connection to drug cases in the Maldives. Additionally 58 locations were also searched in a special inspection targeting safaris, to stop the illegal sale of alcohol.

Speaking further, Nahid acknowledged the challenges in addressing the drug issue in the country. He stated that a draft of the proposed amendments to the Drug Act, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology, has now been forwarded to the Attorney General's Office.

It includes:

- Severe punishment for drug traffickers

- Proper treatment for drug users

- Confiscation of property of drug traffickers

- Severe punishment for the use of children in the drug trade