President Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday ratified an amendment to the Drugs Act, introducing the death penalty for major drug-smuggling offences. The law will take effect three months after ratification.
Parliament approved the amendment last week with 65 votes in favour and none against. The government submitted the proposal in December to increase penalties for serious drug offences. The previous law set a maximum sentence of 25 years and did not include capital punishment.
The amendment sets three thresholds for imposing the death penalty, covering possession or importation of more than 350 grammes of cannabis, more than 250 grammes of diamorphine, and more than 100 grammes of any Schedule One drug other than cannabis or diamorphine. Schedule One lists 139 substances commonly found in the Maldives. The drugs must have been brought into the country by the accused at the time of entry into the Maldives.
A death sentence can be imposed only if the Supreme Court issues a unanimous ruling after all lower court proceedings are concluded. The justices must review all legal points and case details before confirming the sentence. If one justice opposes the death penalty while the majority finds the defendant guilty, the punishment will be life imprisonment and a fine ranging from MVR 100,000 to MVR 10 million.
The amendment blocks parole for major drug traffickers sentenced to life imprisonment. It also blocks plea agreements in such cases, meaning penalties cannot be reduced or negotiated.
The Maldives has not carried out an execution since 1954. Government statements last year said four people were on death row after all stages of the trial had been completed.