Former Gang Members Return to Normal Lives, Says President Muizzu
Photo: The President’s Office
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has said that former gang members in the Maldives have stopped committing crimes and are now leading normal lives, with some even running their own businesses. He described this as a major achievement in the government’s efforts to protect youth from crime.
Muizzu said the government is taking strong measures to safeguard young people from drugs and gang-related violence. As part of this effort, he announced plans to introduce the death penalty for individuals involved in importing and selling drugs. “Importing and selling drugs, they will have the highest punishment. Then we will begin saving people from this,” he said.
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Muizzu also highlighted that rehabilitation services for drug users will be strengthened. New treatment centres currently under construction are expected to help protect young people from substance abuse.
He noted that the government has passed the Gang Crime Prevention Act, which was ratified on May 25 after being passed by Parliament on May 15. Under the law, police and law enforcement agencies have expanded powers, including the authority to enter private premises, arrest and search suspects without a court order, and deny bail to those accused of serious crimes. The law also restricts private meetings between suspects and their lawyers for the first 48 hours after arrest.
Muizzu said he had asked Home Minister Ali Ihusaan about gangs identified under the new law. “The Home Minister was very happy and said there is no more. They sent a list to the prosecutor, the prosecutor said there is no gang that meets the classification now. All the former members of these gangs stopped their criminal activity. These youth, they have returned to normal lives now, and are even in business,” he said.
He added that only a few groups remain that could be classified as gangs and described this development as a significant step forward in protecting youth through legal restrictions and strict penalties. According to the Ministry of Homeland Security, the Maldives Police Service’s Special Operations division has made 50 arrests related to gang crimes in the first 52 weeks of the current government.
