Crime in the Maldives

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]

"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]

  1. ^ Gupta, Amita, ed. (2007). Going to School in South Asia. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-313-33553-2.
  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. ^ International Narcotics Control Board (2007). Report of the International Narcotics Control Board 2006. United Nations Publications. p. 67. ISBN 978-92-1-148218-8.