President Muizzu ratifies Prevention of Gang and Other Serious Offences Act

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has ratified the Prevention of Gang and Other Serious Offences Act.

The law is aimed at addressing gang violence and organized crime in Maldives.

The legislation outlines new criminal offences and penalties related to gang activity, while expanding the powers of law enforcement. It includes specific measures to shield children from recruitment and sets out systems for monitoring high-risk individuals.

Although previous laws targeting gang-related crime and the possession of dangerous weapons have been in place since 2010, they have been widely criticized as ineffective.

The new law seeks to address long-standing gaps and deliver a stronger, more coordinated response.

Key provisions of the Act include:

- Judicial identification of gangs and affiliated individuals to disrupt networks

- Confiscation of assets and wealth gained through gang activity or serious crime

- Criminalization of financial support to gangs

- Use of controlled deliveries and covert operations to dismantle organized groups

- Preventive measures to protect children from gang involvement

- Monitoring of high-risk individuals through measures such as electronic tagging under the MoniCon Order

- A structured framework for offender supervision and rehabilitation

In recent months, the government has intensified efforts to combat gang crime. A dedicated Gang Crime Enforcement Unit was launched under the Maldives Police Service on 1 July 2024.

Since then, police have questioned more than 31,500 individuals in known hotspots, made 180 arrests, and filed charges against 83 suspects.

Authorities note that no deaths have been reported from gang violence since the unit's formation.

The bill was passed by parliament on May 15. It has since been published in the Gazette and is now in effect.