Maldives Takes Bold Steps to Combat Terrorism and Cybercrime

File Pic

(Sanchita Bhattacharya)
Maldives recorded no terrorism-linked fatality in 2025. The abduction and killing of blogger Yameen Rasheed by a local affiliate of Al-Qaeda on April 23, 2017, was the last terrorism related incident in the country. There have, nevertheless, been at least nine terrorist attacks since the Rasheed killing, including three in 2019, four in 2020 and one each in 2021 and 2022.

There has been one incident of terrorism-linked arrests in Maldives in 2025. On March 11, three
suspects – Abdulla Huwairis bin Mohamed, Sausan Rasheed, and Ibrahim Wisam – were arrested
in a security operation jointly carried out by the Police and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) in the Greater Malé Area. The trio were charged with supporting the Islamic State (IS). The last such arrest had taken place on November 14, 2022, when14 Maldivians with suspected links to IS planned to target the National Police College and Indian establishments in the Addu area.

Significantly, on November 24, 2025, the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) in Malé launched two strategic initiatives in the Military Domain ‘Competence’ and ‘Cyber’ – in the presence of Ali Ihsaan, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Major General Mohammad bin Saeed Al-Moghedi, IMCTC Secretary General, as well as several senior civil and military officials and diplomats. The ‘Competence’ initiative aims to strengthen the operational readiness of the Maldivian Navy, with a special focus on naval mine warfare.

The program combines classroom learning with hands-on training, covering mine types and mechanisms, safe clearance techniques, and extensive field exercises in detection,removal, and underwater operations using modern equipment and advanced technology. Meanwhile, the ‘Cyber’ initiative aims to build stronger cyber systems in the Maldives through specialized programs covering digital protection, threat detection, cyber-attack response management, and strengthening of national infrastructure security.

In addition, during the launch ceremony, IMCTC and the Maldivian Ministry of Defence signed the Joint Training Document, which represents a strategic framework for implementing the training programs in military, technical training, sharing of experiences, and building integrated capacities capable of confronting threats.

Unexpectedly, November 2025 recorded some attacks on mosques and, as a result, on November 25, North Galolhu constituency representative and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) member Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu) introduced a Bill to include ‘Damages to Mosques’ in Article 4 (B) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The incidents included the November 2, attack on the Furqan Mosque in Malé , in which the women’s prayer area was targeted and damaged; on November 11, Masjid al-Sultan Hassan Izzudheen (Thoiba Mosque) in Addu City was damaged; on November 11, Masjidul Umarul Farooq, in Malé was vandalized, with copies of the Qur’an, chairs, and water bottles reportedly thrown around, as shared on social media by the Mishkaath Foundation.

As reported on December 6, President Mohamed Muizzu ratified the Third Amendment to the Drugs Act, following its approval by the 20th Parliament during the 28th sitting of its third session on December 3, 2025. The Amendment authorises the death penalty for trafficking Schedule 1 drugs when certain criteria are met. The criteria include cases where an offender brings into Maldives more than 350 grams of cannabis, 250 grams of diamorphine, or 100 grams of any other Schedule 1 drug, and is found in possession at the point of entry. Any death sentence may only be executed after a full-bench review by the Supreme Court, requiring unanimous agreement from all justices.

On November 13, President Muizzu launched Operation Alimagu, a large-scale nationwide
operation targeting drug trafficking networks. Over 500 Police officers conducted multiple searches across numerous atolls. As reported on December 24, Chief Inspector of Police, Fathih
Mohamed said the operation was being carried out in collaboration with Counter Narcotics
Intelligence, Drug Enforcement units, and regional Police centres. He added that raids had been conducted on 39 islands, resulting in the arrest of 193 persons, including 186 men and seven women. According to the Police, 30.63 kilograms of drugs were recovered.

Earlier, as reported on March 31, 2025, the number of drug raids by the Maldivian Police increased to 12,000 in 2024 compared to 9,300 in 2023, Chief Inspector of Police Ahmed Naif disclosed. Naif stated that 654 kilograms of drugs were seized in 2024, compared to 123 kilograms in 2023. Naif added that the Maldives Police Service recorded 95 per cent of successful convictions in drug cases in 2024, an increase of 20 per cent points compared to 2023.

There was a sharp rise in cybercrimes in the Archipelago in 2025. As reported on December 29, 2025, Maldives Police Service reported 814 cases in 2025, as against 173 in 2024, and 99 in 2023.

Meanwhile, on October 25, in order to enhance its cybercrime response, Maldives signed the
United Nations Convention against Cybercrime. Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel
described this as a “historic moment,” adding, “This marks a pivotal step toward a safer, more
secure digital future.” Further, he stated. “…we refuse to let these challenges limit our ambitions. By signing this Convention, we commit to stronger prevention, criminalization, and international cooperation to combat cybercrime.”

On August 11, with the support of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a Cyber Security Operation
Centre was inaugurated in Malé. The Centre was designed to serve as the nation’s “shield and
watchtower” in cyberspace, detecting, preventing, responding to, and deterring digital threats.

On September 15, 2025, Maldives was officially approved as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at its 69th General Conference in Vienna. Leading the Maldivian delegation,Salma Rasheed, Permanent Representative to Geneva, called the membership a significant national milestone and highlighted the role of small island states in global security and sustainable development.

In 2025, Maldives also strengthened its ties with numerous countries. The 8th edition of the Ekathaexercise (December, 2025) witnessed extensive interactions between Maldives and India, aimed at enhancing interoperability and operational synergy. The activities included technical and combat diving, boarding operations, firing drills, demolition and explosive handling, asymmetric warfare tactics, and special heliborne operation drills. Earlier, on July 25, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Muizzu jointly inaugurated the Ministry of Defence facility in Malé, constructed with India’s financial assistance. On the very same day, Maldives and India signed six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to enhance cooperation across multiple sectors, following wide-ranging talks between Modi and Muizzu. Both called for strengthening defence and maritime security cooperation between India and the Maldives. Modi thanked President Muizzu for his strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, and the solidarity extended to India in the fight
against terrorism.

Türkiye donated the CGS Dharumavantha, originally named TCG Volkan (P-343), a Doğan-class fast attack craft, which was commissioned on August 15, 2025, by MNDF. The Maldivian
Government announced that the Dharumavantha would support patrols, anti-smuggling missions
and emergency response operations across its widely scattered archipelago. Later, on November 7, 2025, it was reported that Maldives’s biggest military expenditure so far was a USD 37 million (MVR 570 million) contract to buy six military drones from Turkey.

On August 31, 2025, Muizzu met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and both leaders agreed to further elevate China-Maldives relations under the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative
Partnership (2024–2028). At that time, Muizzu was in China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) Summit. Discussions during the meeting focused on key areas of cooperation, including economic development, trade and investment, security collaboration, and fostering people-to-people connections. Xi also declared that China would continue to support the Maldives in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and exploring a development path suited to its national conditions.

In 2025, UAE also supplied the armored Ajban vehicles to Maldives. MNDF acquired and unveiled UAE-made NIMR Ajban 442A armored vehicles to strengthen its military capabilities, with the first units appearing at the 133rd anniversary parade in Malé on April 19, 2025. Abu Dhabi’s stateowned EDGE Group stated, “As a strategic defence partner to the Maldives, we have delivered high-mobility AJBAN 442A vehicles to the [Maldives National Defence Force], reinforcing our ongoing commitment to supporting our partners across the region with mission-ready solutions.”

Australia pledged a Guardian-class patrol boat to Maldives for EEZ monitoring, search-and-rescue, and interdiction. The boat is currently under construction at Austal Australia and is due for completion in 2026. As reported on June 3, 2025, Minister of Defense of the Maldives Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon acknowledged the donation, describing Australia as a mutual partner in the safety and security of the seas. He added that the vessel was part of President Mohamed Muizzu’s vision of doubling the strength of the Maldives Coast Guard.

Maldives’ expanding exposure to cybercrime and narcotics trafficking has been crucial in the last year. Despite legislative reforms and international cooperation, enforcement deficits, political contestation and maritime vulnerabilities persist in the archipelago, necessitating sustained capacity-building, intelligence coordination and judicial action and political resolve.

Author Sanchita Bhattacharya is Senior Fellow at Institute for Conflict Management.
(The views expressed in the above piece are personal and of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Bharat Fact views.)