The Maldives Parliament has passed a bill allowing the death penalty for drug traffickers under specific conditions.
The government submitted the bill through Gan MP Yoosuf Nasheed. It states that the death penalty can be imposed only if all Supreme Court judges agree.
Current law sets a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and fines between MVR 100,000 and MVR 10 million. The new amendment introduces the death penalty in three cases: possession of over 350g of cannabis, over 250g of diamorphine, or over 100g of 135 drugs listed.
The bill also requires that the drugs seized must match the substances smuggled into the Maldives at the time of entry. If even one Supreme Court judge disagrees, the offender will instead receive life imprisonment and a fine within the existing range.
The amendment marks a major shift in the country’s drug enforcement policy.
