Attorney General Ahmed Usham has announced that an amendment to the law proposing the death penalty for drug traffickers will be submitted to Parliament within a week.
The proposed amendment is part of the Drugs Act Amendment Bill, which seeks to introduce harsher penalties for drug-related crimes, including capital punishment for those convicted of smuggling or trafficking narcotics. The bill was sent to Parliament late last year and is currently under review by the relevant parliamentary committee.
Usham stated that the police, the Prosecutor General’s Office, and other concerned agencies have already submitted their feedback on the bill. The Attorney General’s Office has also received its input and is finalizing the proposed changes.
He said the amendments will be thoroughly reviewed before being formally submitted to Parliament, adding that the government is working to complete the process as President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu requested during the current session.
Currently, the penalty for drug trafficking under the Narcotics Act is life imprisonment and a fine ranging from MVR 100,000 to MVR 10 million. The death penalty is only applicable in cases of intentional homicide, and no executions have been carried out in the Maldives since 1953, despite several death sentences remaining in effect.
If approved, the bill would mark a significant shift in the Maldives’ approach to drug-related crimes, potentially reintroducing the death penalty after more than 70 years without implementation.
The proposed amendment is part of the Drugs Act Amendment Bill, which seeks to introduce harsher penalties for drug-related crimes, including capital punishment for those convicted of smuggling or trafficking narcotics. The bill was sent to Parliament late last year and is currently under review by the relevant parliamentary committee.
Usham stated that the police, the Prosecutor General’s Office, and other concerned agencies have already submitted their feedback on the bill. The Attorney General’s Office has also received its input and is finalizing the proposed changes.
He said the amendments will be thoroughly reviewed before being formally submitted to Parliament, adding that the government is working to complete the process as President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu requested during the current session.
Currently, the penalty for drug trafficking under the Narcotics Act is life imprisonment and a fine ranging from MVR 100,000 to MVR 10 million. The death penalty is only applicable in cases of intentional homicide, and no executions have been carried out in the Maldives since 1953, despite several death sentences remaining in effect.
If approved, the bill would mark a significant shift in the Maldives’ approach to drug-related crimes, potentially reintroducing the death penalty after more than 70 years without implementation.
