President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has blamed the lack of political will by successive governments to combat local gangs and gang related violence in the country.
Speaking after ratifying the Prevention of Gang and Other Serious Offences Act - marking a decisive step in the nation's effort to combat organised crime and gang-related violence, President Dr Muizzu blamed the surge in organised crime on the lack of political will by his predecessors.
The President warned of serious and decisive action against any government official of his Administration if found to have any association or affiliation to local gangs and organised crime.
"One of the things that facilitates nefarious things in the Maldives is gang related crimes. I want our society to live in a peaceful and safe environment. If everyone works together, we can certainly make it happen,” he said.
Despite the stringent law, the main objective of the government, according to President Dr Muizzu, is rehabilitation and reforming criminals, urging the whole nation to come together to build a crime free society.
The new law defines offences and penalties related to gang activity and serious organised crimes in the Maldives. It enhances law enforcement powers, introduces measures to protect children from gang involvement, and establishes systems to monitor and manage high-risk individuals. The Act also lays out a broader framework for prevention and enforcement measures.
While previous legislation targeting gang activity, intimidation, and the possession of dangerous weapons has been in place since 2010, it has not produced effective results. The new law addresses these gaps and provides the stronger response the public has long called for.
The government has taken significant steps over the past 18 months to tackle gang-related crime. A dedicated Gang Crime Enforcement Unit was established within the Maldives Police Service (MPS) in July last year. Since then, 31,511 individuals have been questioned in gang hotspots, 180 arrests have been made, and charges filed against 83 suspects. Notably, no lives have been lost to gang violence during this period.