President Muizzu Ratifies Anti-Gang Legislation – Here’s What It Entails

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu today ratified the Prevention of Gang and Other Serious Offences Act at a special ceremony held at the President’s Office. 

Following the ratification, he addressed questions from the media.

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The new law defines offences and penalties related to gang activity and serious organised crime in the Maldives. It strengthens the powers of law enforcement, introduces protective measures for children at risk of gang recruitment, and establishes systems to monitor and manage high-risk individuals. The Act also provides a comprehensive framework for prevention, enforcement, and rehabilitation efforts.

While previous legislation — in effect since 2010 — targeted gang activity, intimidation, and the possession of dangerous weapons, it failed to deliver effective outcomes. The newly ratified Act addresses these shortcomings and delivers the stronger legal response the public has long demanded.

Key Provisions of the Act Include:

• Judicial identification of gangs and affiliated individuals to dismantle their influence
  
• Confiscation of illicit wealth and assets linked to gang activity or unlawful enrichment
  
• Criminalisation of financial support to gangs
  
• Authorisation of controlled deliveries and covert operations to disrupt gang networks
  
• Preventive measures to shield children from recruitment into gangs
  
• Monitoring of high-risk individuals, including electronic tagging under the MoniCon Order
  
• Establishment of structured systems for offender supervision and rehabilitation

One key provision prohibits the sale of knives to minors — a known channel through which organised gangs arm themselves. By closing such loopholes, the law aims to reduce the pathways through which children become involved in gang-related crimes.

Over the past 18 months, the Government has taken decisive steps to combat gang-related crime. On 1 July 2024, the Maldives Police Service launched a dedicated Gang Crime Enforcement Unit. Since then, authorities have questioned 31,511 individuals in gang hotspots, made 180 arrests, and filed charges against 83 suspects. Importantly, no lives have been lost to gang violence during this period.

Parliament passed the bill during the 32nd sitting of its first session of the 2025 term on 15 May 2025.