Maldives Moves to Reintroduce Death Penalty for Drug Trafficking Offences
The Maldivian government is preparing to reintroduce a proposed amendment to the Drugs Act that includes capital punishment for those convicted of drug trafficking. The move follows a renewed directive from President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who has publicly stated his intention to implement stricter penalties to combat the country’s growing drug crisis.
Capital Punishment Returns to the Legislative Spotlight
In a post shared on X, President Muizzu confirmed that relevant institutions have been instructed to revise the previously submitted bill and reinstate provisions for the death penalty. He noted that other countries, such as Singapore, already enforce similar laws to deter high-level drug crimes.
According to the President, one of the administration’s primary goals is to protect future generations from the harms of drug abuse. He said the government is determined to push forward legislation that would act as a strong deterrent against trafficking, which continues to fuel addiction and crime across the country.
Reclaiming a Clause Removed in 2023
The idea of applying the death penalty to drug offences was first included in the draft amendments to the Drugs Act in 2023. However, when the bill was formally presented to Parliament later that year, the provision was removed. At the time, the government had cited the Singaporean model as a potential reference point for its own anti-drug strategy.
Attorney General Ahmed Usham has now confirmed that the revised version of the bill, which includes capital punishment, is expected to be submitted to Parliament during the current legislative term. He added that key state agencies—including the Maldives Police Service and the Prosecutor General’s Office—have reviewed the proposal and submitted feedback.
“We are working on finalizing the amendments. The revised bill will be sent to Parliament within the coming week,” Usham said.
Minister Confirms Legal Framework for Implementation
Home Minister Ali Ihusan, who also serves as Minister of Homeland Security, revealed that the government is working to embed the procedures for carrying out capital punishment into national law. While regulations exist to guide implementation, he explained that the current administration does not intend to rely solely on those rules.
“The procedure is now in a regulation, but we want it in the law. That’s the direction we’re taking,” Minister Ihusan said in an interview. He added that the government’s goal is to put these legal changes in place and begin enforcement during the current presidential term.
He also emphasized that any implementation would follow international standards and only proceed after the full exhaustion of judicial processes. “Because of the irreversible nature of the punishment, every step must be handled with absolute care,” he said.
Will the Death Penalty Be Enforced?
Maldivian law currently prescribes life imprisonment and fines ranging from MVR 100,000 to MVR 10 million for drug trafficking offences. The death penalty is reserved for cases of intentional homicide and, while several inmates are currently on death row, the Maldives has not carried out an execution since 1953.
Despite that long-standing moratorium, Minister Ihusan said the government believes that harsher punishments—including capital punishment—are necessary to break the supply chain of drugs entering the country. He cited other nations that use the death penalty as a deterrent, suggesting it could serve as a "permanent solution" for drug-related crime.
If the Maldives moves forward with the amendments and begins enforcing executions for drug trafficking, it would become the second country in the South Asia region after Singapore to do so. Sri Lanka, while its laws allow for capital punishment in drug cases, has not enforced it in recent years, maintaining an unofficial moratorium.
The United Nations Human Rights Review conducted last year acknowledged that Maldivian law is rooted in Islamic principles, which may influence how such policies are shaped and applied.
Public Debate and Political Will
President Muizzu’s announcement has sparked renewed national conversation, particularly on whether enforcing the death penalty will truly reduce drug-related crimes. Critics have pointed to the lack of executions even in murder cases as a sign that implementation might be symbolic rather than practical.
Still, the government maintains that bold action is necessary. “This can’t be stopped unless traffickers are severely punished,” said Minister Ihusan.
The coming weeks will be crucial, as Parliament prepares to review and debate one of the most controversial legal reforms proposed in years. Whether the bill will pass and whether the Maldives will, in fact, resume capital punishment remains to be seen.