Police have shut down a property in Fuvahmulah accused of being used for both the sale and consumption of narcotics, marking what authorities say is the first closure of a suspected “drug cafe” outside the capital, Malé.
According to the Maldives Police Service, the premises located at Gulistaanuge in the Funadu district of Fuvahmulah City was closed under an order issued by the Fuvahmulah Magistrate Court.
Police said the property was suspected of being involved in the importation, sale and trafficking of drugs, while also operating as a location where narcotics were allegedly consumed.
Authorities stated that the court order, issued under the Narcotics Act, requires the property to remain closed for 85 days.
According to police, this is the first time the Fuvahmulah Magistrate Court has issued an order to shut down a premises accused of facilitating drug consumption.
Under the terms of the closure order, entering or leaving the property without authorization during the specified period is a criminal offence.
Police warned that strict legal action will be taken against anyone who unlawfully enters the premises or causes damage to the property while the order remains in force.
In a statement, police thanked members of the public for their cooperation in ongoing efforts to combat drug-related crimes in Fuvahmulah.
Authorities also pledged to continue identifying locations allegedly linked to drug trafficking and drug use and to take action against them under the law.
“Efforts to locate properties involved in the drug trade or being used for drug consumption will continue, and appropriate legal measures will be taken,” police said.
The closure follows a recent large-scale anti-narcotics operation carried out in Fuvahmulah, during which police dismantled what they described as a major drug network operating on the island.
The Maldives Police Service has in recent years increased the use of court-issued closure orders under the Narcotics Act as part of broader efforts to disrupt drug trafficking operations and locations suspected of facilitating narcotics-related activities.
