President says combating drug epidemic is a top national priority

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has reaffirmed his commitment to tackling the drug epidemic in the Maldives, declaring it one of his administration’s top priorities.

The President made the statement on social media following the recent seizure of a large quantity of drugs during a successful operation by security forces.

The Maldives Police Service reported that the operation involved the interception of a Sri Lankan vessel by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) near Makunudhoo at approximately 12:45am on 23 November. The vessel was escorted to Kulhudhuffushi City, where a thorough search conducted on the morning of 24 November uncovered nearly half a tonne of drugs, including 344 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 124.6 kilograms of cocaine.

In his social media post, President Muizzu expressed his gratitude to the law enforcement agencies for their dedicated efforts, stating, ridding the country of drugs is one of the top priorities.

The government has been making significant efforts to address the drug crisis. Over the past year, law enforcement agencies conducted 158 drug-related operations, resulting in 12,561 searches and the arrest of 1,009 individuals.