The Maldives Customs Services have seized 3kg of Cannabis leaves that were smuggled into the country via air.
It stated that the Cannabis leaves were seized from Velaana International Airport on the 13th of this month.
Customs further said that the street value of the seized Cannabis leaves would be at MVR 2.4 million.
This comes as Maldivian authorities ramped up their efforts to stop drug smuggling, trafficking, and peddling in the country after a direct order from President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
The government has also strengthened the laws to further aid the drug war. Earlier this month, President Muizzu ratified the Third Amendment to the Drugs Act.
A significant amendment introduced to the Bill is the substantial increase in penalties for drug trafficking offences, including attempting to import or export, assisting in the import or export, or otherwise participating in the import or export of drugs listed in Schedule 1 of the Act.
The penalty for such offences has been increased to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine ranging from MVR 75,000 to MVR 7,500,000.
The Amendment further provides that the penalty for trafficking a Schedule 1 drug may be elevated to the death penalty where specific conditions are met. These conditions include situations where the quantity of drugs trafficked into the Maldives exceeds 350 grams of cannabis, 250 grams of diamorphine, or 100 grams of any other Schedule 1 drug, and where the individual brings the substance into the country at the time of entry.
