Eight kilos of drugs were seized in the first four months of this year: President

President Dr Mohamed Waheed has said that 8,000 grams (8 kilos) of drugs were seized in the first four months of this year, as a result of the collaborative efforts by various government institutions to stop drugs being brought into the country.

The president said this while speaking at a function held to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, at STELCO meeting hall tonight.

He noted the efforts by the police and Maldives Customs against drugs entering the country.

“Large amounts of drugs have been seized between February and April this year. This includes the most common types, heroine and hashish oil,” he said.

“More than 8,000 grams of drugs have been seized over this short period of time. There are Maldivians as well as foreigners involved in these crimes.”

Referring to the efforts made over the past year against drug trafficking, the president noted the strengthening of the harbours in the Maldives.

“As a result of the efforts by the Customs, Ports Authority, MNDF and the police - all of these agencies in cooperation - the harbours, especially the one in Thilafushi, have been improved to meet international standards,” he said.

He said that much more needs to be done under the new law on drugs to combat the problem of drugs, and noted that several such projects have been commenced but not completed.

“There are several things we have started, but not made any progress with. This includes the establishment of a halfway house. This work has been prolonged. We started the halfway house project with great assistance from foreign group Caritas. We hope the halfway house will be established soon,” he said.

“Similarly, we have to establish a Remand Centre under the new law. Efforts have been ongoing in this regard now for some time as well, by different agencies. DPRS and other agencies are working together on establishing a Remand Centre,” he said.

At tonight’s function, the president also launched the Employment Assistance Program for Recovering Addicts, the Islamic Rehabilitation Program and the Relapse Prevention Program.