President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has instructed relevant authorities to further review a proposed bill that seeks to introduce capital punishment for drug smugglers and sellers.

In a post on X, the President said one of the main goals of the government is to free society from drug abuse and build a drug-free generation.

The government has now asked the relevant bodies to study the amendment to the Drug Law, currently before Parliament, with the aim of enforcing tougher penalties — including the death penalty — as seen in some other countries.

Previously, the government stated that a key aim of the proposed legislation is to dismantle drug networks and seize the assets of those involved.

Under the current Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the maximum sentence for drug offences is 25 years in prison, along with fines ranging from MVR 1 million to MVR 10 million.

A draft bill prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs and submitted to the Attorney General’s Office last year included a proposal for the death penalty, specifically for those smuggling more than 500 grams of any of the 139 drugs listed in Schedule 1 of the Act. However, it did not originally cover those selling drugs.

The government is now reviewing the bill to possibly extend the death penalty to drug sellers as well.