Police shut down ‘Mylo City’, a suspected drug den in Hithadhoo

The Hithadhoo Magistrate Court, on Wednesday, ordered the closure ‘Mylo City’, a residence in Hithadhoo, Addu City, on suspicions that it was being utilized as a ‘drug café’.  

The Court directed that the premises remain closed for a period of three months.

According to the Maldives Police Service, the closure order was sought on the grounds that the property was allegedly facilitating illegal drug use by supplying narcotics and providing paraphernalia used for drug consumption.

Referring to the court order, the Police stated that the continued drug-related activities at the property posed a serious threat to public safety and the surrounding community. They further alleged that the residence was being used as a base for large-scale drug trafficking. The area surrounding the property has also been identified as a hotspot for organized criminal activity, including gang violence, kidnappings, and various forms of theft.

This is the second time the Hithadhoo Magistrate Court has ordered the closure of a property in connection with drug-related offenses. On May 9th, the court ordered the closure of another residence for 90 days over allegations that it was being used to facilitate drug consumption. More recently, the Fuvahmulah Magistrate Court also ordered the closure of a suspected ‘drug café’ in the city.

Drug abuse remains one of the Maldives’ most pressing social challenges, prompting the introduction of stricter legislative measures to address the issue. Among the most significant changes are amendments to the Drugs Act, which came into force this year and prescribe the death penalty for individuals convicted of trafficking certain types of narcotics into the country above specified thresholds.