The Indian Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has sent out an advisory expressing the concern of an increase of Indian nationals out of the foreigners who have been smuggling drugs into Maldives.
The NCB's "High-Priority Advisory" highlights the inclusion of the death penalty in a more strict manner in the Drugs Act of Maldives, reading that ignorance of the law is not an excuse to be exempt from a crime and so it is important to abide by the law in order to protect oneself from strict punishment.
The NCB has recommended not to take possession of anything that someone you do not know may attempt to hand over to you at airports, seaports, transit points and traveling in general and to always be aware of your own possessions such as bags and luggage.
While the NCB has released a statement, the Indian High Commission in Maldives has appealed to tourists to fully abide by Maldivian laws and to be aware that the Drugs Act of Maldives has been made even more stringent.
Five Indians have been arrested for their attempt to smuggle drugs into Maldives last month. These arrests were from three different cases. 6.7 kilograms of hash oil was found on the first two people who were apprehended at Velana International Airport (VIA), with the next two people who were arrested having 1.83 kilograms of hash oil. The fifth Indian was arrested last month when they attempted to smuggle drugs to Addu by air. More than two kilograms of drugs were found on them.
Just this month, two Indian women who had 2.17 kilograms of drugs, and an Indian woman and an Indian man who had 2.4 kilograms of drugs were arrested at Velana International Airport.
The Drugs Act has been amended to include a life sentence and a death sentence for serious crimes.
As per the amendment that was brought to the Drugs Act in December 2025, it includes the drugs and amount carried that will determine the death sentence:
- The drug that was smuggled into Maldives is cannabis weighing more than 350 grams.
- The drug that was smuggled into Maldives is diamorphine (heroin) weighing more than 250 grams.
- If the drug that was smuggled into Maldives is a drug weighing more than 100 grams that is included in Appendix 1 that is not cannabis or heroin.
If punishment is sentenced to anyone in such a case, the higher courts will need to review the legal points and case details once more.
According to the law, death can only be enforced if a majority sentence is reached by the residing judges bench from the Supreme Court. In the case a majority is not reached by the Supreme Court bench, the sentence is to be a life sentence and a penalty ranging between MVR 100,000 and MVR 10,000,000.
These amendments went into force on 7th March 2026.
