The death penalty should be implemented to solve the drug problem in the Maldives, President Mohamed Muizzu declared on Thursday night (January 8).

Speaking at an event to inaugurate the ruling party's main campaign hall in Male', Muizzu said the death penalty should be implemented in certain circumstances.

"Imposing the death penalty is not something we want to do in this country at all. But it is something that we have to do in certain circumstances to solve this issue," Muizzu said.

He expressed hope that no one would act in a manner for the death penalty to be implemented and said more restrictions were introduced through law to stop drug trafficking.

The Drugs Act was amended in December 2025 to impose the death penalty on drug traffickers after a final decision by the Supreme Court.

Previously, the maximum penalty for drug traffickers was life imprisonment (25 years in jail). With the amendment, they can be sentenced to death in three cases if the Supreme Court bench unanimously issues a verdict.

Circumstances in which the death penalty is imposed

• Trafficking in cannabis in excess of 350 grams
• Trafficking in more than 250 grams of diamorphine
• Trafficking in more than 100 grams of a Schedule 1 drug

Last year, a senior official told Adhadhu that the government was working to amend laws to regulate the procedures up until execution.

"Implementing the death penalty under a regulation would not be the best option. Regulations are made at the ministry level. We are setting the procedures under a law once the death penalty is upheld by the Supreme Court," the official stated.

The official added that the government will start the process of implementing the death penalty when the amendments are approved and ratified by the President.

The Maldives has not carried out an execution since 1954. Last year, the government said four people were on death row after completing all judicial stages.

Former President Abdulla Yameen lifted the moratorium on the death penalty when he was in office from 2013 to 2018. But no executions were carried out.

His successor, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, changed the policy and decided against implementing the death penalty.