Tracking device on sea vessels to be made mandatory to combat drug trafficking

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, at the recommendation of his cabinet, has decided to mandate the installation of tracking devices on all sea vessels in order to combat drug trafficking and sales nationwide.

The President made the decision during Sunday’s cabinet meeting following deliberation on a paper submitted by the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology.

The installation of tracking devices on all sea vessels is being made mandatory to ease police in the counter-drug operations they undertake while drug trafficking and sales remain prevalent across the nation.

At the cabinet’s recommendation, President Muizzu, on Sunday, decided to amend the regulation on the safety of vessels operating in Maldives’ maritime zone to mandate the installation of tracking devices.

The cabinet decided that arrangements will be made at Maldives Police Service’s Maritime Operations Centre and Maldives National Defense Force’s Maritime Rescue Coordination to monitor the vessels these devices are installed aboard.

Police have destroyed over 103 kilos of drugs seized in various cases this month alone. The drugs, as per the Police, have a street value of MVR 425 million.