Around 200 people have been taken into remand centres with their treatment already underway, the National Drug Agency (NDA)’s Chairperson Lubna Zahir has stated.
Remand centres serve as detention facilities where those accused of drug-related offenses remain in custody pending trial. During this time, they receive basic treatment and support.
Speaking on PSM News' Raajje Miadhu programme, Lubna said most of the remand detainees have been placed under rehabilitation treatment plans through the Drug Court. Only a few have not been admitted for treatment due to ongoing cases in the Criminal Court, she said. However, once the cases are concluded, their treatment, too, will commence. Currently, about 178 people are receiving treatment in the remand centres, she confirmed.
"Most of the people who were taken into remand treatment have been placed on a rehabilitation treatment plan, meaning they have been sentenced to treatment through the Drug Court,” she explained.
Lubna noted that most of those placed in remand treatment are drug users found on using drugs in public spaces, or reported by family members, especially in households with children. She noted that NDA continues to receive frequent reports from Male’ CIty and within the atolls.
Highlighting the efforts to strengthen the drug treatment system, Lubna highlighted the ongoing expansion of the detoxification centre at Hinmafushi Rehabilitation Centre. The facility will be able to treat up to 50 individuals simultaneously and is nearing completion.
Lubna further revealed that a four-storey building is also being developed in Hulhumale’ to run a remand centre where about 100 individuals can be treated at the same time, she said. Additionally, Luna noted that the Maldives’ drug testing capabilities have significantly improved, with the number of detectable substances increasing from seven to 22.