Crime rates, arrests decline in Ramadan this year

The Maldives Police Service on Tuesday, April 15 published statistics that showed a decline in crime rates and arrests during Ramadan this year compared to the previous year.

According to statistics, shared by the police, the total number of cases reported during this year’s Ramadan saw a significant drop compared to last year. While a total of 1,563 cases were reported last year, the figure dropped to 1,293 this year.

Cases Reported in 2024

• Cases of not observing sawm (fasting): 5 cases
• Embezzlement: 54 cases
• Assault: 102 cases
• Domestic abuse: 29 cases
• Vandalism: 102 cases
• Threats and intimidation: 66 cases
• Drugs: 114 cases
• Cyber-crime: 21 cases
• Theft: 486 cases
• Scams: 72 cases
• Robbery: 68 cases
• Sexual offences: 12 cases
• Traffic accidents: 388 cases
• Child abuse: 27 cases
• Counterfeit and Forgery: 17 cases

Cases Reported in 2025

• Cases of not observing sawm: 1 case
• Embezzlement: 29 cases
• Assault: 73 cases
• Domestic abuse: 29 cases
• Vandalism: 64 cases
• Threats and intimidation: 62 cases
• Drug abuse: 114 cases
• Cyber-crime: 21 cases
• Theft: 342 cases
• Scams: 103 cases
• Robbery: 23 cases
• Sexual offences: 10 cases
• Traffic accidents: 388 cases
• Child abuse: 24 cases
• Counterfeit and Forgery: 10 cases

Besides the crime statistics, police also revealed the number of arrests made during last year and this year’s Ramadan for comparison.

Police statistics showed a total of 308 arrests made for various offences last year, which had gone down to just 169 this year.

Arrests in Ramadan 2024

• Failure to fast: 6
• Assault: 45
• Vandalism: 7
• Drugs: 118
• Theft: 104
• Robbery: 16
• Traffic accidents: 4
• Embezzlement: 1
• Threats: 4
• Cybercrime: 1
• Sexual offences: 2

Arrests in Ramadan 2025

• Failure to fast: 1
• Assault: 13
• Vandalism: 9
• Drugs: 91
• Theft: 60
• Robbery: 9
• Traffic accidents: 1
• Counterfeit and forgery: 1
• Embezzlement: 2
• Threats: 5
• Scam: 1
• Sexual offences: 1
• Child abuse: 2

In a press conference prior to Ramadan, police highlighted the alarming rise in theft cases during the Islamic holy month every year and emphasized the authority would take extra measures in curtailing the issue.