President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has ratified the Prevention of Gang and Other Serious Offences Act (Act No. 7/2025), a sweeping piece of legislation aimed at curbing gang-related violence and organized crime across the Maldives.
The new law sets out comprehensive definitions of gang activity and serious organised offences, significantly bolstering the powers of law enforcement agencies. It also introduces specific protections for children vulnerable to gang recruitment and establishes systems to track and rehabilitate high-risk individuals. The Act is seen as a critical overhaul of outdated measures that have proven ineffective since anti-gang legislation was first introduced in 2010.
Key components of the legislation include:
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Judicial identification of gangs and their members, with the aim of dismantling their networks;
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Confiscation of assets and illicit wealth linked to gang activity or serious criminal conduct, through judicial channels;
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Criminalisation of financial support to gangs;
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Authorisation for controlled deliveries and covert operations to disrupt criminal networks;
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Child protection provisions to prevent gang recruitment;
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Monitoring mechanisms for high-risk individuals, including electronic tagging under a MoniCon Order;
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A structured framework for supervising and rehabilitating offenders.
The Act also outlines a broader framework for both preventive and enforcement strategies, aligning with growing public demand for stronger state response to gang violence.
Over the past 18 months, the Government has intensified efforts to tackle gang-related crime. On July 1, 2024, a dedicated Gang Crime Enforcement Unit was established within the Maldives Police Service. Since its formation, authorities have questioned 31,511 individuals in gang-prone areas, arrested 180 suspects, and filed charges against 83. Significantly, there have been no gang-related fatalities during this period.
The legislation was passed during the 32nd sitting of the first session of the 2025 parliamentary term, held on May 15, 2025.
With ratification complete, the Prevention of Gang and Other Serious Offences Act has been published in the Government Gazette and is now officially in force.