After legal amendment enabling capital punishment for major drug trafficking, President says he hopes it never comes to that

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu speaks at the PNC rally held in Male' city on October 1, 2025. (Sun Photo)

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said on Thursday evening that the government does not wish to impose capital punishment, despite recent legal amendments introducing life imprisonment for importing more than 500 grams of drugs into the Maldives.

The death penalty provision was added to the Drugs Act on December 6, setting capital punishment for importing quantities above the threshold listed in Schedule One.

The President made the remarks after inaugurating the ruling PNC’s new headquarters, responding to concerns raised by some organisations following his announcement in late July that the government intended to explore the possibility of applying the death penalty to major drug traffickers.

“The death penalty is not something we want to do in this country at all. It is something we want to use only in exceptional circumstances to solve the epidemic in this country,” he said.

PNC opens its newly expanded headquarters, a four‑storey office building inaugurated by President Mohamed Muizzu on January 8, 2026. (Photo/PNC Secretariat)

“I hope and believe that no one will take it that far, to a situation that would require that punishment,” President Muizzu added.

He said the provision was included in the amended Drugs Act to address the worsening drug problem, and argued that his administration has taken stronger action on drug‑related issues than previous governments.

The bill introduced on December 1, 2024, outlines:

Schedule One: Prohibited drugs and substances, importing more than 500 grams carries the death penalty.
Schedule Two: Medicines and their derivatives.
Schedule Three: Devices, materials, chemicals and substances used to manufacture drugs.

Under the current Narcotics Act, the maximum penalty for drug smuggling is life imprisonment.

From the opening of PNC's newly expanded headquarters, a four‑storey office building inaugurated by President Mohamed Muizzu on January 8, 2026. (Photo/PNC Secretariat)

According to the government, the amendment aims to:

Strengthen law enforcement powers to prevent drug‑related crimes.
Introduce controls for newly emerging drugs.
Add new drug‑related offences and penalties.
Enhance treatment systems for drug addicts.
Review Drug Court procedures and treatment programmes.
Improve mechanisms for seizing and confiscating assets obtained through crime.
Ensure the President is informed of drug‑related crime trends, violence and health impacts.