President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu says former gang members have stopped committing crimes and are now living normal lives, some even running businesses.
Speaking on Monday evening, the President said the government is taking strong steps to protect youth from the scourge of drugs and gang violence. As part of this effort, he announced plans to introduce the death penalty for those who import and sell drugs.
“Importing and selling drugs, they will have the highest punishment. Then we will begin saving people from this,” he said.
The President also said rehabilitation services for drug users will be strengthened, and that new treatment centers currently under construction will help safeguard young people.
He noted that the government has passed a law to prevent gang-related and other dangerous crimes. The President said he had asked Home Minister Ali Ihusaan about the number of gangs identified under the new law.
“The Home Minister was very happy and said there is no more. They sent a list to the prosecutor, the prosecutor said there is no gang that meets the classification now. All the former members of these gangs stopped their criminal activity. These youth, they have returned to normal lives now, and are even in business,” said President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
Maldives Police Service officers of Special Operations division: the Ministry of Homeland Security reports 50 arrests have been made in the first 52 weeks of the current government related to gang-related crimes. (Sun File Photo)
He added that only a few groups remain that could be classified as gangs, and described the shift as a major step forward in protecting youth through legal restrictions and tough penalties.
The Gang Crime Prevention Act was passed by Parliament on May 15 and ratified by the President on May 25. Under the law, police and law enforcement agencies have been granted expanded powers, including the authority to enter private premises, arrest and search suspects without a court order, and deny bail to those accused of serious crimes.
Additionally, the law restricts suspects accused of serious crimes from meeting their lawyers in private for the first 48 hours after arrest.