The government of Japan has handed over precursor and drug testing kits to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and the Maldives Customs Service. Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives Takeuchi Midori presented the kits to Minister of Defence Mariya Ahmed Didi during a special ceremony held at MNDF Bandaara Koshi headquarters.
The handover aligns with the agreement signed between the government of Japan and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in March of this year under the Project for Enhancement of Ability in Maritime Safety and Security. The kits are designated for the rapid testing of drugs and precursors, aiming to bolster the capacity of law enforcement officers in effectively intercepting drug trafficking.
Meanwhile, similar precursor and drug testing kits were also handed over by the government of Japan to the Maldives Police Service (MPS) on October 18. Ambassador Takeuchi Midori presented the kits to Deputy Commissioner of Police Abdul Mannan Yusuf during a special ceremony at the Iskandhar Building.
The water-resistant kits incorporate reagent tools necessary for detecting drugs, facilitating early identification from the initial stage of analysis. The kits empower officers to quickly recognise drug types and substances, enhancing their ability to intercept drug trafficking. The portability of the kits is expected to significantly increase the efficiency of frontline officers in identifying suspected materials at crime scenes across various regions in the Maldives.