Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla has warned the drug trade is expanding in small island communities. He made the remarks while speaking at the ceremony held to inaugurate the police post in Goidhoo, Baa Atoll.
At the ceremony, Minister Imran said the drug trade is the source of major organised criminal activities in the islands and that it stands in the way of building a safe and peaceful community. The minister highlighted the efforts by the government to stop the sale and use of drugs and said the previously longstanding peace in the Maldives has been extinguished due to the drug trade. He said illegal drugs became common in the country 50 years ago and have expanded to even the small island communities.
Furthermore, Minister Imran said the main reason why police officers should be stationed on every inhabited island is to provide protection and safety to all citizens. He added the highest priority of police officers should be to stop the drug trade, as it is the key to ensuring the safety of citizens.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has pledged to station police officers in all inhabited islands by the end of his term.