Authorities in the Maldives have begun what is being described as the country’s most extensive anti-narcotics operation in recent years, in a campaign personally ordered by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.
The initiative, dubbed Operation Ali Magu by the Maldives Police Service, aims to dismantle drug trafficking and distribution networks nationwide. Police confirmed the operation began at 5.30am on Thursday, with more than 500 officers deployed in coordinated raids across the archipelago.
President Muizzu announced the crackdown on social media, framing it as part of his administration’s pledge to rid the Maldives of drug-related crime and addiction. “The government is engaged in extensive endeavours aimed at establishing the Maldives as a nation entirely liberated from the scourge of drugs,” he wrote.
ދިވެހިރާއްޖެއަކީ ޑްރަގްގެ ވަބާއިން އެއްކޮށް ސަލާމަތްވެފައިވާ ޤައުމަކަށް ހެދުމަށް ސަރުކާރުން މިދަނީ ގިނަ މަސައްކަތްތަކެއް ކުރަމުން. މިގޮތުން ޑްރަގުގެ ވިޔަފާރީގަ ބައިވެރިވާ ފަރާތްތަކާއި ދެކޮޅަށް ޙާއްސަ ކޮށްގެން މިއަދު އޮޕަރޭޝަނެއް ހިންގުމަށް އަޅުގަނޑުވާނީ ފުލުހުންނަށް އަންގާފަ.…
— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) November 13, 2025
Police said the operation involves simultaneous searches at over 100 locations, carried out by specialist units and regional teams. Officials have described it as the most wide-ranging anti-drug effort in recent memory, with the stated goal of breaking trafficking networks and prosecuting those responsible for distribution.
📷މިހާރު ކުރިއަށް ގެންދާ މަސްތުވާތަކެތީގެ އޮޕަރޭޝަން " އޮޕަރޭޝަން އަލިމަގު" ގެ ތެރެއިން pic.twitter.com/rH1Am24Dhv
— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) November 13, 2025
The campaign comes as lawmakers consider amendments to the Drugs Act that would introduce harsher penalties for narcotics offences, including provisions for the death penalty for those convicted of importing or trafficking drugs. The bill remains at the committee stage, with ministers citing international precedent to justify the proposed changes. Alongside tougher laws, the government says it is working to expand treatment facilities for people affected by addiction.
Police Commissioner Ismail Naveen confirmed that 90 people have been arrested so far, calling the crackdown the largest specialised drug enforcement operation ever undertaken in the Maldives. Officers have seized narcotics and items linked to street-level dealing, as well as equipment used for brewing alcohol.
“The operation will continue to be implemented in other islands and regions going forward. Additional arrests will probably be made,” Naveen said, adding that the ultimate aim is the complete dismantling of drug networks operating within the country.
