Police shut down 14 ‘drug cafés’; six still in operation

Maldives Police Service has shut down 14 ‘drug cafés’ in operation in Male’.

Drug cafés are establishments that serve as a hotspots for the sale of drugs on a café-like basis.

Speaking during an interview with state media PSM, Chief Inspector of Police Ahmed Naif said the authority has shut down 14 drug cafés in operation in the Maldivian capital, Male’, as of March 15^th, since the commencement of this year.

Naif, noting six additional drug cafés are still in operation in Male’, said the Police is facing various obstructions to shut them down.

According to Naif, there are over 60 known drug cafés in Male’.

The locations of the 14 drug cafés that were shut down are as follows:

1. H. Cauliflower
2. H. Amenity
3. G. Droop
4. M. Maamuta
5. M. Fenniru
6. G. Hilaal
7. G. Fresh Light
8. STO Ahmedhee Building
9. M. Nafeesa Manzil
10. G. Scentuge Aage
11. M. Roashanee Manzil 
12. M. Ruby
13. M. Thanthaara
14. M. Orchid House (West Side)

The obstructions highlighted by Naif in shutting down such drug cafés are:

• High number of inheritors of houses
• Hesitation in giving statement against family members
• Difficulties in identifying who to take action against due to contractual obligations towards many
• Constraints in the existing Drug Act

As such, Naif said an amendment has been proposed to the law in order to eliminate these obstructions. They include empowering the Police to seize such establishments for 72 hours without a court order and paving way to seize such establishments for a maximum of 90 days with a court order.

Naif also appealed for public assistance in resolving such issues.

In this regard, he has urged the public to come forward even if it involves a relative in order to ensure their integration into the rehabilitation system and to exercise extreme caution in renting houses. He noted that owners of households are legally mandated to stop such activities if they come across them on their properties.