New regulations governing the conduct of controlled delivery operations and the collection of urine samples in drug-related investigations have been established.
Published in the Government Gazette, these regulations were formulated under the Drugs Act and came into immediate effect. The framework introduces protocols for conducting controlled delivery operations aimed at intercepting narcotics.
According to the regulations, authorization for such operations must be granted by the Commissioner of Police or a high-ranking officer designated by the Commissioner, holding at least the rank of Chief Inspector of Police. The regulations further specify that requests for authorization to conduct a controlled delivery must be initiated by an officer of commissioned rank.
The regulations mandate that before an operation can proceed, it must be verified that there is sufficient evidence of a drug-related offense occurring or about to occur. Furthermore, it is compulsory to record all activities of the operation in writing or through audio and video means.
The police are also empowered under these regulations to use substitute substances in place of actual narcotics during controlled delivery operations. Legally, these substitutes will be treated as the actual controlled substance, and any individual taking delivery of them will be legally deemed to have taken delivery of narcotics.
The regulations state that in addition to the police, customs officers and personnel from other agencies designated by the police may participate in controlled delivery operations.
Furthermore, if an individual other than the one identified through intelligence attempts to take delivery of the items during an operation, the commanding officer is authorized to proceed with the operation without interruption.
The regulations also establish procedures regarding the collection of urine samples from individuals suspected of drug use.
Under these rules, police are authorized to collect urine samples from individuals suspected of using or possessing drugs, as well as from those who confess to use. Such samples must consist of at least 20 milliliters. Failure to provide a sample within 12 hours of a police request, or any attempt to tamper with the sample, will be legally classified as a refusal to provide a sample.
The regulations mandate the completion of chain-of-custody forms and the refrigeration of samples. If more than three days elapse before a sample is submitted to a laboratory, it must be kept frozen. Additionally, samples transported from the atolls to Male' must be sent in a cool box packed with ice.
