Police Arrest Leader of Major Addu City Drug Network
Aerial photograph on Addu City | Photo: MV+
The Maldives Police Service has arrested the alleged head of a major drug network operating in Addu City. The arrest occurred last night as part of “Operation Alimagu”, the nationwide anti-narcotics crackdown.
Police have not yet released the identity of the detained individual, nor confirmed whether any illegal substances were discovered during the arrest. They said the raid relates to a long-running investigation into suspected drug trafficking and money laundering. According to their findings, the network is believed to have been active since 2017. Over the past five years, investigators say roughly MVR 19 million passed through the bank accounts of four senior members of the network.
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Authorities said the broader investigation into the Addu City network is ongoing. They did not indicate when further updates — including details on the substances seized, charges laid, or the identities of other suspects — will be released.
Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan said the Alimagu Operation was launched to specifically target individuals involved in drug trafficking and sales. He urged those engaged in the illegal trade to halt their activities, warning that they would otherwise face the strictest legal consequences.
މަސްތުވާ ތަކެއްޗާއި ދެކޮޅަށް ކުރެވޭ މަސައްކަތުގެ ތެރެއިން އޮޕަރޭޝަން އަލިމަގު ގައި 2025 ޑިސެމްބަރ 3 ވަނަ ދުވަހުގެރޭ އައްޑޫ ސިޓީ ގައި އެންމެ ފުޅާދާއިރާއެއްގައި މަސްތުވާތަކެތީގެ ވިޔަފާރި ކުރަމުން އައިސްފައިވާ ނެޓްވޯރކެއްގެ އިސްފަރާތްތައް ފުލުހުންވަނީ ހައްޔަރުކޮށްފައި.
މި…— Minister of Homeland Security & Technology (@min_mohst) December 4, 2025
The arrest comes amid a broad enforcement push. Between 1 and 13 November, the MPS deployed over 500 officers across the country to conduct raids in 105 locations on 39 islands under Operation Alimagu. In those operations, authorities seized nearly 30 kilogrammes of narcotics and arrested more than 110 individuals.
During a press briefing, MPS officials confirmed that 61 of those arrested tested positive for drug use; 38 suspects were presented in court, and the remainder were released or remanded depending on prior records and evidence.
The police emphasised that those apprehended come from all tiers of the drug trade — from street-level dealers to higher-level traffickers.
Yesterday, Parliament approved amendments to the Drug Act introducing the death penalty for major drug-smuggling offences. The punishment applies only when an offender personally brings drugs into the Maldives and all Supreme Court justices unanimously uphold the sentence. The amendments also remove the previous provision allowing death sentences to be reduced to 25 years in prison. Capital punishment may be imposed only if trafficking exceeds 350g of cannabis, 250g of heroin, or 100g of other illegal drugs. If the Supreme Court does not reach unanimity, the offender will instead receive life imprisonment and a fine of MVR 100,000 to MVR 10 million.
The current legislation permits the death penalty to be commuted to a life imprisonment which is a 25-year prison term. However, the parliamentary committee strengthened the amendment by removing this provision. Under the revised bill, offences that carry life imprisonment or the death penalty related to drugs cannot be reduced, altered or made eligible for parole under this Act. The state is also prohibited from entering into plea agreements in such cases.
