VZCZCXYZ0010
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLM #1843/01 3111153
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 071153Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4642
INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 9556
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6477
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 4531
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0157

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001843 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL/AAE (J LYLE) 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR PGOV MV
SUBJECT: MALDIVES: TEXT FOR 2006 INCSR 
 
REF: STATE 154928 
 
¶1.  Please find below the text for the 2006 INCSR.  The format is 
keyed to the instructions in reftel. 
 
¶2. I. Summary: 
 
Maldives is not a producer of narcotics or precursor chemicals.  The 
Maldivian government and the U.S. maintain a good working 
relationship on counter-narcotics issues.  Officials estimated that 
in 2005, upwards of ten percent of the population had used drugs. 
Reliable statistics are not available, but UNICEF and international 
law enforcement trainers also report an alarmingly high rate of 
heroin addiction.  The U.S. government has assisted the Maldives in 
counter-narcotics activities, including via direct training and 
through the Colombo Plan.  In October 2004, the president set up the 
National Narcotics Control Bureau (NNCB), mandated to coordinate all 
anti-drug efforts.  In September 2005, the Maldivian government 
initiated a project to have 80 people earn advanced diplomas in 
anti-narcotics fields.  There is minimal evidence to suggest that 
Maldives is a significant trans-shipment point for narcotics or that 
Maldives produces or cultivates narcotics. 
 
II. Status of Country: 
 
Maldives is not a producer of narcotics or precursor chemicals. 
Officials believe that most narcotics trafficked into Maldives are 
probably for local use, not for transshipment.  The Republic of 
Maldives consists of approximately 1,100 islands set in the Indian 
Ocean, and has a population of approximately 270,000.  Both law 
enforcement officials and anecdotal evidence suggest that drug 
addiction has become a major problem in Maldives.  Maldivian 
authorities believe that the drug problem is at the root of most 
crime in the society.  The Maldivian government and the U.S. 
maintain a good working relationship on counter-narcotics issues. 
 
The Maldivian government is sensitive to the illicit drug issue and 
is taking steps to address the problem.  The government has 
publicized the penalties for importing drugs to Maldives, including 
through posters at the international airport.  The government 
conducted a Rapid Situation Assessment of drug abuse, performed in 
Maldives in 2003 and published in 2004.  The study was possible 
because changes to the narcotics law in 2002 enabled officials to 
speak with drug abusers without being required to report them.  The 
study confirmed officials' working hypothesis that the majority of 
drug abusers are in the 18-35 year old category.  In the past, the 
late-teen onset of drug abuse coincided with completion of secondary 
education and the lack of sufficient employment opportunities for 
the growing population of young adults.  However, UNICEF officers 
reported that the average age of first use has now dropped to 12. 
In recent years, drug abuse has shifted from cannabis to unrefined 
Indian "brown sugar" heroin.  UNICEF officers expressed concern that 
the method of heroin consumption may be shifting from smoking to 
injection. 
 
III. Country Actions against Drugs: 
 
Policy Initiatives:  In September 2004, the Police Department split 
from the National Security Service, and the police are responsible 
for narcotics law enforcement.  The Department now has a Narcotics 
Control Unit staffed by 50 officers.   In addition, in October 2004, 
the president set up a National Narcotics Control Bureau (NNCB), 
mandated to coordinate anti-drug efforts, promote demand reduction, 
carry out public education campaigns, and conduct rehabilitation 
programs. 
 
Accomplishments:  In August 2005, Deputy Gender and Family Minister 
Dr. Abdulla Waheed was appointed as the head of the NNCB.  In 
addition, in September 2005, the government initiated a project to 
have 80 people earn advanced diplomas or Master's degrees in 
anti-narcotics fields within five years.  The NNCB plans to have 
these practitioners work in atolls where drug addiction rates are 
high.  At present, Maldives has a 150-bed treatment center for both 
voluntary and involuntary patients in Himmafushi; a new 200-bed wing 
at this facility should become operational soon, while an additional 
100-bed facility in Addu is expected to open by the end of the year. 
 The NNCB employs expatriate healthcare professionals, such as child 
psychologists, to work at the center.  The courts order a large 
number of addicts to go into rehabilitation, inundating the small 
facility.  At times, the waiting list for the center exceeds the 
number receiving treatment. 
 
Law Enforcement Efforts:  Officials state that the large number of 
incoming foreign workers, mainly South Asians, is one source of drug 
trafficking.  Law enforcement officials have intercepted between two 
to three kilograms of heroin being trafficked into Maldives 
annually.  Since only small quantities of narcotics are usually 
trafficked, detection is difficult.  There is no evidence at this 
time suggesting that the Maldives is a significant transshipment 
point for narcotics.  As the country has a large amount of commerce 
and traffic via the sea, officials believe, however, that most drugs 
enter the country via small commercial vessels.  Police plan to 
engage vessel operators in deterrence efforts. 
 
Currently, Maldivian authorities do not keep comprehensive 
statistics of drug seizures/arrests for all agencies in the country. 
 The NNCB is making efforts to collect data on all drug arrests and 
seizures for future records.  Maldives Customs service has tracked 
and compared Customs seizures and arrests for 2005 and 2006.  Even 
though the total amount of drugs seized is still small, there was 
marked increase from 2005 to September of 2006.  Customs reported an 
increase from 2005 to 2006 in the number of cases (122% higher in 
2006) and drugs seized (297% more drugs seized in 2006).  Customs 
credits the increase on seizures as a result of better information 
sharing with law enforcement agencies in Sri Lanka and India.  Some 
of the larger seizures reported by Maldives Customs in 2006 are 
detailed below. 
 
In January and February 2006, Maldivian Customs and Police officials 
reported making six drug-related arrests and seizing 2.4 kilograms 
of heroin at Hulule International Airport.  The arrested individuals 
included one Pakistani, one Indian, one Sri Lankan, and three 
Maldivians.  In June and July of 2006, approximately 469 grams of 
heroin was seized at Hulule Airport. In September 466 grams was 
seized from a marine vessel that had arrived in Male' from India. 
On April 22, 2006, Maldives Police seized 1.6 tons of hashish in 
Maldivian territorial waters.  The hashish was located approximately 
two hours north-east of the capital, in approximately 10 meters' 
depth of water, sunk in 1600 one-kilogram, water-proof packages. 
According to Maldives Police, the hashish was discovered by a group 
of lobster fishermen that routinely dive in the area.  The fishermen 
contacted Coast Guard and Maldives security agencies, who took 
custody of the hashish.  Maldives Police and Customs officials are 
conducting an investigation and have requested U.S. Drug Enforcement 
Administration assistance.  This drug seizure is by far the largest 
ever reported in the Maldives and is perhaps an early indication of 
an emerging trend towards transshipment.  Maldivian authorities 
believe that the quantity of hashish is far in excess of 
requirements for local consumption. 
 
Corruption:  The government of the Maldives did not, as a matter of 
policy, encourage or facilitate the illicit production or 
distribution of any controlled substances or the laundering of 
proceeds from illegal drug transactions.  There were no reports that 
any senior official engaged in such activity or encouragement 
thereof.  There were no INL-funded aircraft or equipment in 
country. 
 
Agreements and Treaties:  The Republic of the Maldives has no 
extradition treaty with the United States.  In 1994, however, the 
Maldives cooperated with the U.S. in rendering a Nigerian national 
to the United States to face narcotics trafficking charges.  The 
Maldivian government is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention. 
 
Cultivation/Production:  There is no evidence that Maldives 
produces significant quantities of either drugs or drug precursors. 
 
There are no reports of clandestine or illicit refining. 
 
Drug Flow/Transit:  There is little evidence at this time suggesting 
that the Maldives is a significant transshipment point for 
narcotics.  As the country has a large amount of commerce and 
traffic via the sea, officials believe, however, that most drugs 
enter the country via small commercial vessels. 
 
IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs 
 
Bilateral Cooperation:  The U.S. has assisted the Maldives in 
counter-narcotics activities, including via direct training and 
through the Colombo Plan.  In 2005, the Colombo Plan conducted a 
U.S.-funded regional training program in Maldives for public health 
practitioners.  Previous U.S. government funding to the Maldivian 
government in 1993 created a computerized immigration record-keeping 
system, in part to track the movements of alleged drug traffickers. 
The U.S. followed up with additional funding in 1996 to enhance the 
system. 
 
Road Ahead:  The U.S. government intends to maintain its commitment 
to aiding the Maldivian government in combating drug abuse.  The 
U.S. expects to continue its support of the Colombo Plan. 
 
BLAKE