The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has announced that an amendment to the Drug Act has been drafted and submitted to the Attorney General's Office (AGO), proposing the introduction of the death penalty for drug smugglers in the Maldives.
Currently, the death penalty in the Maldives is reserved for murder cases, making this the first time such a severe punishment has been proposed for a crime other than homicide. Under the current Drug Act, the most severe punishment is life imprisonment for 25 years and a fine ranging from USD 6,500 to USD 650,000. It marks the first instance of the death penalty being considered in drug-related cases.
The proposed amendment to the Drug Act includes a provision in Schedule One that mandates the death penalty for the importation of more than 500 grams of drugs. The amendment lists 139 types of drugs. The draft bill also states that if any of these drugs exceed the specified weight and the individual is convicted of drug trafficking, the death penalty would be enforced.
Additionally, the amendment seeks to expand the powers of the Drug Court of the Maldives, revising rehabilitation provisions and clarifying the conditions under which drug-related activities are considered trafficking. The bill also defines trafficking to include financing drug operations and providing facilities and vehicles for smuggling.
The expanded powers of the Drug Court would now include issuing arrest warrants for drug use and trafficking offenses, a role previously handled by the Criminal Court of the Maldives. In addition, certain matters that were previously at the discretion of the Drug Court and the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) have been made mandatory, including stricter penalties for violations of treatment orders and prosecutions for omissions.
The government has stated that addressing the drug issue is one of its top priorities, acknowledging the significant social challenges facing the country. The government is also making efforts to implement a comprehensive solution to the drug issue during this term.