President: Maldives used as a transshipment port for narcotics

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has voiced alarm Maldives is being used as a transshipment port by international drug trafficking networks in collaboration with local criminals.

He highlighted the issue at the inauguration of the National Drug Agency Open Day 2019 this Saturday.

President Solih said that stopping the flow of drugs into Maldives and closing all drug smuggling routes was the most crucial step in saving the country from drugs.

He said that local drug traffickers were linked with large-scale international drug trafficking networks, making it a challenge.

“We are talking about a monumentally challenging task. We are talking about stopping a huge business. Those running this business in Maldives are linked with large-scale regional and international networks. This is the reality,” said President Solih.

He said that several local drug traffickers have gone directly to drug producers at the Afghan-Pakistan border to negotiate smuggling drugs into Maldives.

He said that local drug traffickers, in addition to smuggling drugs into Maldives and peddling the drugs, were also using Maldives as a transshipment port and converting Maldives into a hub for drug smuggling across the world.

“In addition to peddling drugs in Maldives, they are using Maldives as a transshipment port and turning it into a destination from which drugs are routed across the world,” said President Solih.

Noting the key role agencies such as Customs, the police, Coastguard and Immigration had in stopping drug smuggling, the President said that the agencies needed to work with more integrity and efficiency.

The President said that his government had made major strides in combatting drugs by seizing large shipments smuggled into the country, and by identifying and closing down several café’s which were being operated as a front for drug trafficking.

He provided assurance his government would not back down from closing smuggling routes, identifying and arresting drug traffickers who are exploiting young Maldivian men and women for personal monetary gain, and closing down their networks.