President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has ratified the Prevention of Gang and Other Serious Offences Act (Act No. 7/2025), introducing a stronger legal framework to address gang-related violence and organized crime in the Maldives.
The new law defines gang activity and serious organized crimes, strengthens law enforcement authority, and introduces a wide range of preventive and enforcement measures — including protections for children and monitoring of high-risk individuals.
The legislation addresses longstanding gaps in the country’s legal response to gang violence. Although previous laws have targeted gang intimidation and weapons possession since 2010, authorities have acknowledged that these measures failed to curb gang influence.
Key features of the Act include:
- Judicial identification and dismantling of gangs and their affiliates
- Confiscation of illicit assets and wealth through judicial proceedings
- Criminalisation of financial support to gangs
- Use of covert operations and controlled deliveries to dismantle criminal networks
- Preventive action to protect children from gang recruitment
- Monitoring of high-risk individuals with electronic tagging under a MoniCon Order
- Creation of a structured offender rehabilitation and supervision system
Over the past 18 months, the government has intensified efforts to combat gang violence. A specialized Gang Crime Enforcement Unit was launched within the Maldives Police Service in July 2024. Since then, 31,511 individuals have been questioned in known gang hotspots, resulting in 180 arrests and charges against 83 suspects. Importantly, no deaths due to gang violence have been reported during this period.
The bill was passed by Parliament on 15 May 2025, during the 32nd sitting of its first session of the year. Following the President’s ratification, the Act has been published in the Government Gazette and is now in effect.
The new law defines gang activity and serious organized crimes, strengthens law enforcement authority, and introduces a wide range of preventive and enforcement measures — including protections for children and monitoring of high-risk individuals.
The legislation addresses longstanding gaps in the country’s legal response to gang violence. Although previous laws have targeted gang intimidation and weapons possession since 2010, authorities have acknowledged that these measures failed to curb gang influence.
Key features of the Act include:
- Judicial identification and dismantling of gangs and their affiliates
- Confiscation of illicit assets and wealth through judicial proceedings
- Criminalisation of financial support to gangs
- Use of covert operations and controlled deliveries to dismantle criminal networks
- Preventive action to protect children from gang recruitment
- Monitoring of high-risk individuals with electronic tagging under a MoniCon Order
- Creation of a structured offender rehabilitation and supervision system
Over the past 18 months, the government has intensified efforts to combat gang violence. A specialized Gang Crime Enforcement Unit was launched within the Maldives Police Service in July 2024. Since then, 31,511 individuals have been questioned in known gang hotspots, resulting in 180 arrests and charges against 83 suspects. Importantly, no deaths due to gang violence have been reported during this period.
The bill was passed by Parliament on 15 May 2025, during the 32nd sitting of its first session of the year. Following the President’s ratification, the Act has been published in the Government Gazette and is now in effect.
