National Drug Agency (NDA) Chairperson Lubna Zahir Hussain has said that the youth of Maldives were partying without fear when the government came to power.
In a post on X, Lubna said partying became common in Maldives in 2018 and that the youth were partying when the current government took over in 2023.
“When this government took over, the youth were partying without fear,” Lubna said.
However, in a statement on Sunday, NDA, led by Lubna, said partying with drugs became a trend recently.
"The new trend of partying, which has become popular recently, has led many people to form a drug habit and face dangerous situations," NDA stated.
"... but these are dangerous drugs that could lead to deaths."
Drug abuse has been an unresolved challenge in the Maldives since the tenure of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who left office in 2008.
Meanwhile, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu blamed the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) for the "tragic incident" on April 18.
Police believe Hawwa Yumnu, 21, fell from a window in the stairwell of Henveiru Fentenoy house. Raudh Ahmed, 21, who was with her at the time of the incident, left the scene and did not report to authorities.
Both of them allegedly attended a drug-fueled party at Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen's house a few hours before the incident.
Speaking at the anniversary ceremony of the Maldives Police Service on April 24, Muizzu said it happened because of MDP's "fun without fear" policy promoted during the 2013 presidential election.
