National Narcotics Control Bureau

Supply Reduction

Supply reduction can further be divided into two sub areas: production and trafficking. In the sub area of production, a key concern is the specific problem of precursors, and in both areas, money laundering and corruption are major concerns. Supply reduction is mainly the task of drug law enforcement agencies such as special anti-narcotic forces, police, the judicial system, customs, immigration, coast guard, the NSS and Atoll Offices in the case of outer islands.

In recent months the Customs and the Police have strengthened their efforts to reduce smuggling of illicit drugs into the country via the seaports through strengthening logistics and improving search and detection capacity. These efforts are complemented by measures to strengthen the use of drug control intelligence. These efforts have been remarkably successful, as indicated by the recent spate of arrests and seizures.

The Challenge

Illicit drugs are a global impediment to the social and economic development of nations. The impact of the drug scourge has been particularly severe on the Maldives, threatening her prosperity, good health, and indeed her whole future.

In the past decade we have intensified our efforts to stop the drug menace. But we, as a nation, need to do even more to ensure that criminals, who put their own interests before those of the nation, do not take our common heritage away from us.

The lesson we learn from other countries is that drug abuse is a hydra-like multifaceted issue. It requires a balanced well-coordinated multi-sectoral approach, encompassing measures to stop illicit drugs from entering the country and to reduce the demand for them. Both these aspects are equally important and need to be given the same, high priority.

We, therefore, call upon all Maldivians, as indeed the international community, to support fully our efforts to eliminate the scourge of illicit drugs from the Maldives and beyond our borders. This is the challenge and we must commit ourselves to this challenge.