Home Minister pledges to succeed against narcotics peddling

Minister of Home Affairs Mr. Imran Abdulla pledges to succeed in the state's efforts to completely quell the widespread network of narcotics peddling and abuse.

The minister made the affirmation while speaking at the inauguration of the first drug rehabilitation initiative at the Maafushi penitentiary.

According to the minister, the rehabilitation initiative is one such effort by the current administration in its journey to completely quash the spread of drug abuse and peddling.

Furthermore, minister Imran described illegal drugs as one of the most harrowing banes on the social fabric and development.

He hoped the state-led initiative will be with support and assistance from other state institutions, associations, and non-profits as well as the communities.

The Minister of Home Affairs further noted that the new drug rehabilitation initiative will prove beneficial both directly and indirectly to every family in the Maldives.

"With this program, the inmates who have been shackled and forgotten will receive a chance at resolving themselves and eventually be able to go back to their families," minister Imran commented.

The rehabilitation program aims to re-educate and reinstate the inmates back to society as honest, hard-working, and law-abiding members.

While addressing the issue of illegal drug use and its widespread peddling network in the Maldives, the minister had noted this anti-social "movement" have given rise to a few notorious individuals, and fighting back with the "cartel-like" organized crime entities will be challenging for authorities.

The minister had cautioned authorities to remain vigil in their commitment to rid the society of the drug abuse and peddling menace.

Drug peddling rackets have grown extensively over the past decades while authorities report that the peddling networks have spread nationwide.

Meanwhile, the Maldives government has managed to successfully apprehend several individuals involved in various drug networks while authorities continue to probe the situation further.

The most recent information disclosed to the public by Maldives Police Service indicates a shift in the classification or type of drugs smuggled into the island nation, while the smuggling of some of these illegal narcotic substances has risen as high as 300 percent.