Crime in the Maldives

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Naifaru Police Station. Naifaru Police Station.jpg
Naifaru Police Station.

Crime in the Maldives ranks from low to moderate, but crime rates in the country have increased significantly in recent years. [1] Incidents of theft on beaches or in hotels do occur. [2] Juvenile delinquency is a growing problem in the Maldives.[ citation needed ] According to the data available from the Ministry of Defence and National Security, there has been an increase in petty crime in the country. In 1992, 169 cases of petty crime were reported, while the number was 462 in 1996. The number of sentenced persons under the age of 19 also increased from 391 in 1988 to 512 in 1998. [3] Fraud examiner Peter Lilley in his book Dirty Dealing writes that money laundering is not a significant problem in the Maldives. [4]

Contents

"Drug abuse in Maldives has reached alarming levels, and, according to several ministries and high ranking officials, is now the most serious problem the country is facing."

— Report of the International Narcotics Control Board 2006 [5]

Drug abuse

Drug abuse is increasing in the country. [2] The Maldives are near one of two major illicit opium producing centers in Asia - the Golden Triangle [6] comprising Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. [7] Many tourists visit the country from different parts of the world like Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia. These factors make the Maldives vulnerable as a point for illegal shipments of drugs meant for other nations. [6] Abuse of illegally produced heroin is a visible problem in the Maldives as well as other South Asian countries like Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. [5] The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) believes that drug trafficking in the Maldives is a side effect of the nation's increased exposure to the outside world. [8] Drug abuse is also associated with increasing incidents of theft and robbery. [9]

Terrorism

Threat of terrorist attacks is a matter of concern. [10] The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of the Government of Australia advises travelers "to exercise caution" because of the high threat of terrorism. [11] According to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), "Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners". [10]

Crime statistics

Rate of criminal homicide and assault in the Maldives declined by 30% between the years 1997–2002. Crime involving bribery and fraud also declined by 33% during this time. [8] The Corruption Perceptions Index in 2023 ranked the Maldives 93rd best out of 180 countries in terms of corruption. On a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 being the least and hundred being most transparent, Transparency International rated the Maldives 39. [12]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime</span> Intergovernmental organization

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is a United Nations office that was established in 1997 as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention by combining the United Nations International Drug Control Program (UNDCP) and the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division in the United Nations Office at Vienna, adopting the current name in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs</span> Central drug policy-making body of the UN System

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) is one of the functional commissions of the United Nations' Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and is the central drug policy-making body within the United Nations System. The CND also has important mandates under the three international drug control conventions, alongside the three other treaty-mandated bodies: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Health Organization, and International Narcotics Control Board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transnational organized crime</span> Organized crime across national borders

Transnational organized crime (TOC) is organized crime coordinated across national borders, involving groups or markets of individuals working in more than one country to plan and execute illegal business ventures. In order to achieve their goals, these criminal groups use systematic violence and corruption. Common transnational organized crimes include conveying drugs, conveying arms, trafficking for sex, toxic waste disposal, materials theft and poaching.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anti-Narcotics Force</span> Federal executive bureau of Pakistan

The Anti-Narcotics Force is a federal executive bureau and a paramilitary force of the Government of Pakistan, tasked with combating the narcotics smuggling and use within Pakistan. ANF works under the umbrella of Pakistan Army and Ministry of Narcotics Control (Pakistan) of which Mohsin Raza Naqvi is the minister since March 2024. Due to misconception on Section 4 of ANF ACT 1997, the force's head consisted of the active-duty general officer of Pakistan Army. Although the law prescribes that any competent person may be appointed as Director-General. Currently, a two-star Army Officer, Major general Muhammad Aniq Ur Rehman Malik is deputed as Director-General. The ANF also has sole responsibility for coordinating and pursuing Pakistan narcotics investigations abroad.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in Afghanistan</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in Bangladesh</span> Overview of crime in Bangladesh

Crime in Bangladesh is present in various forms such as drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion, contract killing, fraud, human trafficking, robbery, corruption, black marketeering, political violence, terrorism and abduction, wildlife trafficking, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in Bhutan</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in Malaysia</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in Slovakia</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Palau</span> Use of cannabis in Palau

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Papua New Guinea</span> Use of cannabis in Papua New Guinea

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corruption in Guinea-Bissau</span> Institutional corruption in the country

Corruption in Guinea-Bissau occurs at among the highest levels in the world. In Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index for 2023, Guinea-Bissau scored 22 on a scale from 0 to 100. When ranked by score, Guinea-Bissau ranked 158th among the 180 countries in the Index, where the country ranked first is perceived to have the most honest public sector. However, Guinea-Bissau's score has either improved or remained steady every year since its low point in 2018, when it scored 16. For comparison with worldwide scores, the best score in 2023 was 90, the average score was 43, and the worst score was 11. For comparison with regional scores, the average score among sub-Saharan African countries was 33. The highest score in sub-Saharan Africa was 71 and the lowest score was 11. In 2013, Guinea-Bissau scored below the averages for both Africa and West Africa on the Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s Index of African Governance.

Cannabis in Senegal is illegal; the drug is locally referred to as yamba.

Cannabis in Kazakhstan is illegal.

Cannabis is illegal in the Maldives.

References

  1. ↑ Gupta, Amita, ed. (2007). Going to School in South Asia. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 113. ISBN   978-0-313-33553-2.
  2. 1 2 "Maldives International Travel Information". Bureau of Consular Affairs . United States Department of State . Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  3. ↑ Rapid Situation Assessment of Drug Abuse in Maldives. United Nations Publications. 2003. p. 14. ISBN   978-92-1-120184-0.
  4. ↑ Peter Lilley (2003). Dirty Dealing: The Untold Truth About Global Money Laundering, International Crime and Terrorism. Kogan Page Publishers. p. 219. ISBN   978-0-7494-4034-3.
  5. 1 2 International Narcotics Control Board (2007). Report of the International Narcotics Control Board 2006. United Nations Publications. p. 67. ISBN   978-92-1-148218-8.
  6. 1 2 Rapid Situation Assessment of Drug Abuse in Maldives. United Nations Publications. 2003. p. 15. ISBN   978-92-1-120184-0.
  7. ↑ P. J. Alexander (2002). Policing India in the New Millennium. Allied Publishers. p. 658. ISBN   81-7764-207-3.
  8. 1 2 "Maldives" (PDF). United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime . Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  9. ↑ International Narcotics Control Board (2007). Report of the International Narcotics Control Board 2006. United Nations Publications. p. 68. ISBN   978-92-1-148218-8.
  10. 1 2 "Maldives travel advice". Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office . Government of the United Kingdom . Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  11. ↑ "Maldives Travel Advice & Safety". Smart Traveller. Australian Government . Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  12. ↑ Corruption Perceptions Index 2007 Archived 2008-04-28 at the Wayback Machine Transparency International
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