Beneath the Paradise: Why crime never sleeps in the Maldives

To the world, Maldives is the most picturesque getaway destination known to many holidayers and backpackers alike. Couples and families from all around the world come to our lands to make beautiful memories. Our beaches are theirs for them to lay on to achieve that pitch perfect tan. The seas are a place of awe, excitement and relaxation as they bask in our serene, sparkly oceans and interact with the marine wildlife. Of course, they never sleep on our local cuisine.

All in all, our lands— particularly our resorts, provide an unforgettable respite to our beloved travelers. However, despite all these positive attributes, therein lies a dark truth within our country. A truth that's not obvious to the foreign eye, but if you are a local living in the Greater Male’ Region, you know exactly what I’m talking about: The rise of crime within our island nation.

What prompted me to write this piece was a recent experience I had that shook me to my core. This particular incident happened on the morning of 29th June. I woke up to find my phone, laptop, perfume bottles, and other items that had personal value to me gone. At first, I thought it was a prank my father pulled, as he usually does that from time to time being the mischievous man he is, a trait he has never lost since his childhood. I went to my mother in her room to confirm this theory, but she debunked it, telling me he went out running around 5:45am, which is part of his usual routine. She shared my confusion on what has transpired, but after noticing certain things looking amiss such as our living room camera being turned around and my dad’s Tablet nowhere to be found, a dark certainty crept into our minds: We realised we had been robbed while we were asleep. The thieves took their chance as soon as dad left to go for his morning run. They went into my room and took what they could (phone, watches, bags etc.) and I was asleep, none the wiser.

I never experienced anything like this before, so I felt a wave of anxiety and fear rushing through my body as I ran to my dad, making his rounds in the Ekuveni running track, to inform him of the terrible news. What followed next was filing a police report and trying to get back our items as quickly as possible. Through the support and help from my family, particularly my dad, uncle and grandfather— we were able to retrieve the stolen items. I even met the people who did it. We were able to help the police to intercept them. The perpetrators were interrogated, and claimed they did not do it and were just selling the items on behalf of their leader. It was a duo of thieves. One of them looked unrepentant, trying to save himself by telling lie after lie. His voice screamed desperation and anger at an unjust situation that he landed himself in. The other thief, however, was silent and still. The eyes are a window to the soul, and his own communicated to me a great deal of sorrow and shame.

At first, I was filled with rage that I had to keep in check. I am not one to cause trouble, especially in public. However, sometime after the cops took the crooks away, I began to wonder what set these guys on the path of thievery and other miscellaneous crimes. I began to ask questions to the people around me and was knowledgeable on the matter.

Firstly, we must address the fact that our justice system is not perfect. The laws of the land are not that strongly enforced, especially when it comes to criminal matters. Our island nation is particularly vulnerable in these areas, as low public trust in law enforcement has hindered crime prevention and accountability.

Our nation’s geography is also a point of weakness as well. According to the Global Organized Crime Index, the country’s scattered islands and location has made it a transit point for transnational illicit flows such as drugs and human trafficking. Minors are also forced into these types of crimes such as drug transportation, and foreign nationals (particularly women) are trafficked to tourist resorts through debt coercion.

According to the Maldives Crime Statistics provided by the Maldives Police Service website, theft is the most reported crime in 2025 so far, with traffic accidents coming in as a close second.

Now, all these are technical and indisputable aspects which is the cause of crime being so rampant in our country. I also wanted to explore the psychological element which can be an overlooked contributor to the rise of crime that is not just specific to the Maldives, but everywhere else as well.

I spoke with a dear friend of mine, who majors in psychology. She stated that difficult childhoods that include abuse and neglect from parents, guardian figures and peers can result in aggression, mistrust and a higher risk of engaging in antisocial behavior. Like most countries from South Asia, Maldives is no different when it comes to being culturally strict, and there are no shortages of strict households that dole out harsh discipline to their children. This lack of warmth and emotional support can lead to attention seeking behaviour through the avenues of illegal activities.

There is also the fact that our youth is vulnerable to being socialised to crime at a very young age. We all want to fit in, more so when we are children due to it being a pivotal time for identity formation. Peer pressure is no joke, as it has caused a multitude of youths below the age of 18 to engage in reckless behavior such as unsupervised driving. As stated in my previous article, this has been a driving factor that caused a lot of accidents in recent memory. I also want to point out that peer pressure and early socialization among groups have caused the youths of this country to join up with street gangs. When I was growing up, I have seen my fair share of boys my age flying the names and colors of gangs such as the “Titanz” and “Vaffanculo” which back then I found hilarious due to the naming convention (I mean, “vaffanculo” is a curse word in Italian, which I don’t know if they have taken into consideration before collectively going by that name) but now I find it kind of sad and horrifying that most of the kids I’ve known in school were and still part of that life, was probably pressured into it. Maybe even born into it, too.

On the topic of pressure, we live in a world where we are societally pressured to achieve certain things. Two main things are at the forefront: Money and success. From television to social media, there is no shortage of people flexing their material wealth. It makes impressionable youths gain ideas they shouldn’t be having.

Back to my robbery incident, I later discovered that one of the thieves used to be someone that led a relatively decent life. He held a job at RDC, and had a wife. But I learnt from his records that at some point, his wife divorced him. I don’t know whether there is a correlation between his personal failings and his stint in thievery, but I do know that while I do not excuse his actions (he broke into my room with the other guy after all), I do feel sorry for him. My words may be a tad too optimistic, but I hope he turns his life around. I believe that he can do it if he wishes to, as all of us could.  Despite the hands we have been dealt, we all could benefit from being kind to one another.

My experience was terrifying, but it opened my eyes to the broader issues we face as a nation. While the Maldives remains a dream destination to many, for those of us who live here, the reality is more complex. Crime is not born in a vacuum — it’s a symptom of deeper social, economic, and psychological fractures. If we want real change, we must start by addressing these root causes — not just with stronger laws, but with more empathy, better support systems, and community engagement. I still believe in the goodness of people, even those who have lost their way. Maybe that belief, however fragile, is the first step toward healing.