Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim has rejected claims that the government’s sweeping tobacco control measures, including the generational ban, are driving a rise in organised crime associated with tobacco use.
Speaking in Parliament, Minister Nazim responded to questions from Mohamed Ibrahim, Member of Parliament for North Galolhu, who asked whether the government’s policies were inadvertently fuelling illicit activity. Minister Nazim dismissed the allegation, stressing that offenders may attempt to justify their actions by pointing to regulatory controls but that such arguments are unfounded. “I do not accept that the steps taken to control tobacco are causing crimes to increase,” he said.
The North Galolhu lawmaker had observed what he described as a recent increase in organised crime linked to tobacco, pressing the minister on whether these incidents were connected to the government’s measures. Minister Nazim acknowledged the challenges inherent in major policy shifts, stating, “It is known to us that some changes always have some ‘effect’.” Yet he rejected any causal link between the government’s actions and criminal activity, adding, “But I absolutely do not see the measures we are taking regarding tobacco as necessarily being a reason for crimes to increase. I personally do not accept that.”
Minister Nazim underlined that the generational ban is being advanced only after careful consideration of all relevant factors, with enforcement measures already under way. He stressed that the initiative is rooted in a national commitment to public health, aimed at reducing the prevalence of non‑communicable diseases. Addressing the burden of tobacco‑related illness, he noted, remains a central priority within the government’s broader health agenda.
The minister explained that the strategy supporting the ban rests on raising public awareness of the risks of tobacco, educating citizens on the mindset required for successful cessation, and cultivating public interest and motivation to quit. To advance these goals, the government is using multiple platforms to disseminate information on the dangers of tobacco while expanding access to cessation services nationwide.
Minister Nazim confirmed that an enforcement system has been established to ensure compliance and penalise violations, noting that the policies are informed by scientific evidence, international best practices, and consultation with relevant authorities. He cautioned that the full impact of these interventions will only become evident after a sustained period of implementation, underscoring the long‑term nature of public health reform.
The generational ban stems from a government amendment to the Tobacco Control Act. Under this reform, any individual born on or after 1 January 2007 is prohibited from using tobacco products. The prohibition took effect on 1 November and is reinforced by a legal ban on the sale of tobacco products to individuals within this protected age group.