A Maldivian woman and her 14-year-old daughter have been repatriated from Türkiye and placed in the National Reintegration Centre in Himmandhoo after travelling to Syria during the conflict, Home Minister Ali Ihusan revealed at a press briefing. The government is also working to bring back around 60 Maldivians stranded in two locations in Syria and others stranded in other countries. Twenty-three people previously repatriated from conflict zones have completed rehabilitation, he said.
Allegations against acting Police Commissioner Farhad Fikry have been investigated and found unsubstantiated, the home minster told the press. Farhad faced accusations of using his influence to free his son after he was arrested for assaulting a police officer while intoxicated in February 2025. As the sole deputy commissioner, Farhad assumed the acting role after Commissioner Ismail Naveen retired last month. He was among seven senior officers the Police Board voted to dismiss in August 2021 for alleged abuse of authority, but the Civil Court ruled his dismissal was unlawful.
Medicine quality is determined by assurance standards rather than country of origin, Health Minister Abdulla Nazim said at a press briefing, contrary to President Muizzu's January 2024 pledge to end "ordinary medicine" imports and source directly from Europe and the US. "Quality medicine is produced in India, in Bangladesh," Nazim said, adding that what matters is strengthening the regulatory system. The minister said maximum retail prices have been set for some essential medicines through the Aasandha insurance scheme. But he could not say when the full price list would be enforced. Price caps on 357 essential medicines were first announced in November 2021 and were due to take effect in January 2022, but were never enforced after pushback from pharmacies. The MFDA registered 363 new medicines last year to address shortages and licensed 15 new importers, bringing the total to 63.
The government is in discussions on banning shisha and introducing a tax on sugary products while cutting the state subsidy on sugar, the health minister said. The decisions required cross-government agreement, Nazim said, and he could not give a timeline. But he said the health sector was "waiting for the day" the measures are implemented. The Doctors' Association has called for both measures.
The Islamic ministry suspended Al-Abrar Private Limited's Umrah licence after finding the company cancelled trips scheduled between March 3 and 26 without legitimate reason and in violation of regulations. The ministry said it was investigating further and would take additional action. This follows protests by more than 100 pilgrims who had paid upwards of MVR 45,000 (US$ 2,918) each before being told their trips were cancelled, with the company citing the Middle East conflict.
Motorised water sports vehicles including jet skis have been banned from the South Ari Marine Protected Area, the country's most important whale shark habitat. The environment ministry amended the management plan to also require propeller guards on all vessels operating in the area by June 30, following past injuries to both whale sharks and people. The 2009 protected zone stretches from Rangali reef to Dhigurah in Alif Dhaal atoll. The previous 15-minute time limit for snorkelling and diving encounters has been relaxed to allow longer visits when no other groups are waiting.
The Maldives will be the official host country of ITB Berlin 2027, the world's largest travel trade show, Visit Maldives announced. The agreement was signed at this year's ITB. The Maldives last held the role in 2017. The hosting coincides with "Visit Maldives Year 2027," a national tourism campaign announced by President Muizzu. The Maldives will host the opening gala on March 15 and maintain a presence throughout the three-day event.
The Maldives Monetary Authority appointed Mohamed Ishan, formerly head of finance at the central bank, as the new chief of its Financial Intelligence Unit. He replaces Ismail Sajid, who was dismissed in January over sexual harassment allegations he is contesting in court. Sajid had been appointed in August last year after long-serving FIU chief Abdulla Ashraf was reassigned the same weekend a confidential FIU report examining transactions linked to ruling party MP Ibrahim Shujau was leaked on social media.
Two Indian nationals were arrested on suspicion of smuggling 6.7kg of hashish oil into the Maldives. Customs officers found the drugs in bottles in the luggage of Kathirivil Manimaran, 21, and Dhanushkandan Gopal, 19, upon arrival. The Criminal Court remanded them for six days.
Customs seized 83kg of narcotics with an estimated street value of MVR 72 million over the past six weeks, Home Minister Ali Ihusan said. Officers also confiscated two million smuggled cigarettes and 7,000 vape devices. Smuggling attempts increased after the vape ban took effect in December 2024 and import duty on cigarettes was doubled in November 2024.
