Drug Networks Infiltrate Government and Parliament, Says Umar Naseer

Former Home Minister Umar Naseer has claimed that drug networks continue to infiltrate state institutions and Parliament, often under the cover of political party affiliation.

Speaking on the SSTV programme, Umar alleged that thousands of government employees, including police officers, corrections staff, and judicial personnel, are being recruited and paid monthly to protect gang interests. He said that individuals involved are not limited to street-level activity, but also operate businesses and hold positions within Parliament.

The former minister estimated that around 3,000 state employees receive monthly payments from criminal networks and accused the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) of harbouring drug dealers within its ranks.

Umar questioned the effectiveness of recent nationwide drug operations, including one involving 500 police officers last week. He said most of the 90 individuals arrested in such operations are likely to be released within a month, continuing a trend he claims has persisted under successive governments.

He called for systemic reforms, suggesting that the current rehabilitation model, influenced by Australian practices, is ineffective. Umar proposed replacing it with a framework based on Islamic Sharia, highlighting concerns that the National Drug Agency (NDA) lacks the capacity to manage large numbers of addicts and is affected by political interference. He noted that the relapse rate among addicts stands at 80 percent.

Umar also emphasised the need to intercept and destroy drug shipments passing through Maldivian waters and criticised the absence of asset seizures from drug dealers over the past two decades, despite legal provisions allowing such action. He claimed that the Bank of Maldives is unable to freeze accounts belonging to gang leaders, enabling them to continue accessing funds.

The former minister reiterated his view that criminal networks have influenced every government and said that some current MPs hold criminal records related to drugs. Known for his hardline stance on law enforcement and national security, Umar has consistently advocated for stringent measures to combat drug-related crime in the Maldives.