Maldives considers death penalty for drug traffickers

The President of Maldives has initiated discussions regarding the implementation of the death penalty for individuals convicted of drug trafficking, an announcement made via an X post on Wednesday evening. 

This move aligns with the government's stated primary objective: to safeguard society from the pervasive issue of drugs and foster a drug-free future generation.

Relevant government agencies have been directed to conduct further studies on the Narcotics Act Amendment Bill, currently under parliamentary review. The proposed amendments aim to introduce more severe penalties, including capital punishment, for those found guilty of drug importation or trafficking, drawing parallels with practices in several other nations.

މަސްތުވާތަކެތީގެ ވަބާއިން ދިވެހި މުޖްތަމަޢު ސަލާމަތްކޮށް، މަސްތުވާތަކެތިން ދުރުހެލިވެފައިވާ ޖީލެއް ބިނާކުރުމަކީ މިސަރުކާރުގެ އެންމެ މުހިންމު އެއް އަމާޒު.

އެގޮތުން، މަޖިލީހަށް މިހާރު ހުށަހަޅާފައިވާ މަސްތުވާ ތަކެއްޗާބެހޭ ޤާނޫނަށް އިސްލާހުގެނައުމުގެ ބިލްގައި، މަސްތުވާތަކެތި…

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) July 30, 2025

Drug-related issues represent a significant social challenge in the Maldives. The government has been actively pursuing various measures to combat this problem. These initiatives include plans to establish remand centers and enhance the existing drug rehabilitation infrastructure.

Home Minister Ali Ihsan previously reported a significant increase in drug seizures, with MVR 600 million worth of drugs seized in 2023, a figure that escalated to MVR 1.2 billion in 2024. He also stated that routes utilized for cross-border drug smuggling have now been identified and closed.

Under the Narcotics Act, which has been in force in the Maldives for 14 years, the current penalties for drug traffickers include a fine of MVR 10 million and life imprisonment. Penalties for drug peddling range from five to ten years in jail and a fine of MVR 10,000 to MVR 600,000. Drug dealers face 15 years in prison and a fine of MVR 25,000 to MVR 2 million.

As noted in the President's post, several countries, including China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam, impose the death penalty for drug offenses. Other nations like Malaysia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, and Pakistan also have provisions for capital punishment in drug cases. 

However, in Malaysia, the death penalty has recently been made optional, and executions are rarely carried out in Thailand and Pakistan. 

Bangladesh implements the death penalty for serious drug-related offenses.