President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on Sunday ratified 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. The law replaces the Gang Violence Act, which government officials deemed insufficient in addressing these threats.
The new statute formally defines offences related to gang activity and organised crime, introducing strict penalties while significantly broadening law enforcement authority. It establishes monitoring mechanisms for high-risk individuals and includes provisions to prevent the recruitment of minors into criminal organisations. Structuring its approach around prevention and enforcement, the law aims to dismantle entrenched networks and disrupt their operations.
The bill, presented by the government, was passed in parliament on 15 May during the 32nd sitting of the first session of the current parliamentary term.
Under its provisions, law enforcement agencies are tasked with identifying gangs and individuals affiliated with them, a step intended to weaken criminal networks and limit their ability to operate. The legislation also authorises the seizure of illicit assets linked to organised crime, criminalising financial support for such groups.
Law enforcement agencies have been granted expanded powers to conduct controlled deliveries and covert operations aimed at dismantling organised crime syndicates. Penalties for involvement in these groups are severe: operating or establishing one carries a 25-year prison sentence and fines ranging from USD 12,973.04 to USD 0.65 million. Assisting or attempting such crimes incurs an 18-year sentence, with fines between USD 6,486.52 and USD 0.32 million.
The law explicitly criminalises recruitment into organised crime, with stiff penalties for those responsible. Recruiting a minor warrants a 25-year sentence and fines between USD 12,973.04 and USD 0.65 million, while recruiting an adult carries a 20-year sentence and fines between USD 6,486.52 and USD 0.45 million. Additional penalties target individuals facilitating recruitment, participating in criminal organisations, or using private property for illicit activities. Legal entities involved in organised crime, along with their responsible parties, risk dissolution and fines of up to USD 6.49 million.
The new framework grants extensive authority to enforcement agencies, particularly the Maldives Police Service (MPS). Courts may declare wealth unlawfully acquired if individuals linked to organised crime cannot verify its legitimacy, allowing the state to seize such assets.
Violent crimes involving weapons are subject to strict penalties, including murder, assault, kidnapping, intimidation, and grievous bodily harm. Murder committed using dangerous weapons may result in the death penalty, while other offences carry lengthy prison sentences and substantial fines.
Police will also have the power to stop, search, and arrest individuals suspected of organised criminal activity, weapons manufacturing, or illegal imports, without requiring prior judicial authorisation. The law further establishes protective measures for individuals vulnerable to gang environments, including electronic tagging through a MoniCon Order, as part of broader supervision and rehabilitation efforts.
Authorities have highlighted their commitment to confronting gang-related crime. On 1 July 2024, the MPS established a dedicated Gang Crime Enforcement Unit, which has since carried out widespread enforcement operations. Since its formation, 31,511 individuals have been questioned in areas linked to gang activity, leading to 180 arrests and charges against 83 suspects. Officials have noted that, during this period, no lives have been lost to gang violence.
President Muizzu has been vocal in his criticism of previous administrations, attributing their failure to act decisively against criminal networks to political considerations. Officials pointed to longstanding legislative gaps, noting that laws addressing gang activity, intimidation, and the possession of dangerous weapons had existed since 2010 but lacked effectiveness. The newly enacted legislation, they assert, provides stronger enforcement tools to meet public demands for action.
Following ratification, the law has been published in the Government Gazette and will take effect three months after its publication. Upon enforcement, earlier statutes concerning intimidation, dangerous weapons, and gang-related crime will be repealed.
The ratification ceremony, held at the President's Office, was attended by Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan, Attorney General Ahmed Usham, Prosecutor General Abbas Shareef, and senior security officials.