President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has declared that no one will be granted exemption from the law, linking the persistent threat of gang-related crimes in the Maldives to a historical lack of political will.
Speaking at the ratification ceremony of the Prevention of Gang and Other Serious Offences Act (Act No. 7/2025) held at the President’s Office today, President Muizzu said the legislation is designed not to criminalize the public but to safeguard communities from the influence of organized crime.
The President responded to media questions by stressing that political reluctance and self-interest had long hindered effective action against gang violence. He vowed that his administration would take all necessary steps to address the issue, including empowering enforcement bodies and ensuring that no individual or group remains above the law.
Muizzu also underscored the crucial role of public involvement in tackling crime and said he believed the new law, supported by community engagement, would yield tangible results.
The law, passed at the 32nd sitting of the 2025 parliamentary term on May 15, allows for the judicial identification of gangs, the confiscation of illicit assets, the prevention of gang financing, and stricter enforcement and rehabilitation mechanisms. It also includes protections against the recruitment of minors into gang networks.
The ceremony was attended by senior government officials, including Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan, Attorney General Ahmed Usham, Prosecutor General Abbas Shareef, and senior members of the judiciary and Maldives Police Service.
The Act has now been published in the Government Gazette and is legally in effect.
Speaking at the ratification ceremony of the Prevention of Gang and Other Serious Offences Act (Act No. 7/2025) held at the President’s Office today, President Muizzu said the legislation is designed not to criminalize the public but to safeguard communities from the influence of organized crime.
The President responded to media questions by stressing that political reluctance and self-interest had long hindered effective action against gang violence. He vowed that his administration would take all necessary steps to address the issue, including empowering enforcement bodies and ensuring that no individual or group remains above the law.
Muizzu also underscored the crucial role of public involvement in tackling crime and said he believed the new law, supported by community engagement, would yield tangible results.
The law, passed at the 32nd sitting of the 2025 parliamentary term on May 15, allows for the judicial identification of gangs, the confiscation of illicit assets, the prevention of gang financing, and stricter enforcement and rehabilitation mechanisms. It also includes protections against the recruitment of minors into gang networks.
The ceremony was attended by senior government officials, including Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan, Attorney General Ahmed Usham, Prosecutor General Abbas Shareef, and senior members of the judiciary and Maldives Police Service.
The Act has now been published in the Government Gazette and is legally in effect.
