Authorities have arrested 1,580 suspects and more than 700 kilograms of drugs have been seized in the past 18 months, the Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan has revealed.
Sharing the latest updates on the government's ongoing efforts to tackle the drug pandemic in the Maldives, Minister Ihusan said the primary aim is to reduce the volume of drugs smuggled into the country.
The Minister offered some statistics on the efforts made under the Ministry to curb the amount of imports and circulation.
According to Minister Ihusan, in the past 18 months or so, 726 kg of drugs have been seized along with 14,200 bottles of alcohol with a combined street value of USD 90.8 million.
“We’ve managed to deliver a major blow to the drug trade. We will continue to look to intercept imported and circulating drugs and stop its trade. Our investigation is focused on stopping traffickers rather than peddlers,” he explained.
During the past 18 months, 1,580 people have been arrested and prosecuted in 275 operations to curb drug trafficking in the Maldives, he added.
To complement the crackdown on the drug trade, the government, according to the Minister, is also working to strengthen the country’s drug treatment and rehabilitation system to curb the number of drug users.
The Minister said the top priority in this area this year and the next will be to establish adequate rehabilitation facilities and train people.
"When it comes to reducing the demand for drugs, there are no facilities in the Maldives to match the number of drug users. There is no proper treatment system. This year and the next we are focusing on establishing that system,” he added.
In line with this effort, The National Drug Agency (NDA) has tasked the State-owned Road Development Corporation (RDC) to build drug rehabilitation centers in three islands.
RDC has been awarded the contract by NDA to build the rehab centers in Velidhoo, Noonu Atoll, Kaashidhoo, Kaafu Atoll and Gan, Laamu Atoll.
According to Minister Ihusan, the government is also in the process of amending the Drugs Act to bring a permanent solution to the pandemic which will include the asset seizures of drug traffickers to be used in drug trafficking prevention operations and to strengthen the drug treatment and rehabilitation system.