Last year, police closed more than 40 drug cafe's and handed over 142 expatriates to Immigration for deportation on drug related charges.
Police have shut down 14 drug cafe's in Male' since January, with six more still in operation, Chief Inspector Ahmed Naif.
Speaking with state media PSM, Naif said that while more than 60 such establishments have been identified in Male', legal and logistical challenges have made it difficult to shut them all down. These include property ownership disputes, reluctance from family members to testify, and the involvement of multiple individuals, making it harder to determine accountability.
The biggest challenge, Naif said, lies in legal loopholes within the current Drugs Act.
Proposed amendments to the legislation aim to address these obstacles by granting police the authority to shut down drug cafe's for up to 72 hours without a court order and seek court approval to extend closures for a maximum of 90 days.
Last year, police closed more than 40 drug cafe's and handed over 142 expatriates to Immigration for deportation on drug related charges.
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