Financial Crime World

Combating Organized Crime in the Maldives: Progress and Challenges

The Maldives has made significant strides in addressing organized crime and corruption, but there are still numerous challenges that need to be addressed.

Challenges Facing the Maldives

  • The Maldives has a relatively weak legal framework for combating organized crime, with gaps remaining in laws related to human trafficking and drug trafficking.
  • The country lacks effective witness protection programs, making it difficult for witnesses to come forward and testify against organized criminals.

Corruption and Poor Prison Conditions

  • Corruption is widespread in the judiciary, law enforcement, and financial sectors, making it challenging to convict organized criminals and investigate financial crimes linked to organized crime groups.
  • The prison system is weak, with poor conditions contributing to a lack of rehabilitation for inmates.

Limited Economic Opportunities

  • There is a lack of economic opportunities in the private sector due to monopolistic tendencies and high levels of control by a small handful of ultra-rich resort owners.

Positive Developments

New Government Approach

  • The new government has taken a more coherent approach to combating corruption and organized crime, with the introduction of anti-corruption reforms and the strengthening of oversight mechanisms.
  • This shift in approach has led to increased cooperation with international partners and the development of stronger legislation.

International Cooperation and Extradition

  • The Maldives has signed all major relevant treaties pertaining to organized crime and cooperates with international partners in forums such as a regional intelligence-sharing platform for Southern Asia.
  • The country has extradition treaties in place and has proven willing to extradite foreign criminals.

Strengthening Legislation and Prison Reform

  • There is a sustained attempt to create stronger legislation, with a series of laws on human trafficking and drug trafficking being introduced over the past decade.
  • Prison reform is currently being addressed through UNODC-facilitated training, and the Strategic Action Plan 2019–2023 identifies rule of law and judicial reform as a government priority.