The third amendment to the Drugs Act came into force in March 2026, three months after ratification. Importing more than 350 g of cannabis at the point of entry could now bring death, but only if the full Supreme Court unanimously upheld the conviction after all appeals; otherwise the sentence was life. The amendment also made life mean the rest of a prisoner's life, with no parole, pardon or commutation, and added offences for drug cafés, premises used for drugs and financing the trade.[1][2][3]
Listed for context. No score change is recorded for Maldives here.
References
- eTruth — Maldives confronts drug crisis with harsher laws and a push for recoveryParagraph on the December 2025 amendment taking effect in March 2026
- The Edition — Life sentences for drug traffickers extended to deathReport of 3 December 2025 on the death thresholds and the removal of the 25-year cap on life
- The President's Office — President ratifies the Third Amendment to the Drugs ActPress release of 6 December 2025archived
Checked. The date and the event were compared with a source that was read.