Police Report Decline in Crime and Arrests During Ramadan
Officers conducting routine checks on drivers’ licenses | Photo: MPS
The Maldives Police Service has reported a decline in both crime rates and arrests during Ramadan this year, compared to the same period in 2024.
According to police statistics published, the total number of cases reported during Ramadan 2025 dropped to 1,293, down from 1,563 cases recorded during the previous year’s holy month.
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How did Ramadan 2025 compare to 2024 in terms of crime and arrests?
We’ve compiled an overview of arrests and reported incidents during the month of Ramadan for both years.
1/3 pic.twitter.com/Nrb3OZjnDB— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) April 15, 2025
Theft remained the most frequently reported offence this year, with 342 cases, though this marked a decrease from 486 cases in 2024. Drug-related offences held steady at 114 cases, while reported incidents of assault dropped from 102 to 73. Notable reductions were also observed in vandalism, which declined from 102 to 64 cases, and robbery, which fell significantly from 68 to 23 cases.
In contrast, reports of scams increased, rising from 72 cases in 2024 to 103 cases this year. Cybercrime reports remained unchanged at 21 cases. The number of reported cases of domestic abuse, traffic accidents, and drug offences remained the same or showed minimal fluctuation.
Arrests also saw a notable decline. During Ramadan 2025, police made 169 arrests in total, compared to 308 during the same period last year. Arrests for drug-related offences fell from 118 to 91, and those linked to theft dropped from 104 to 60. Fewer arrests were made for assault, which decreased from 45 to 13 cases.
Police data showed a reduction in arrests across several categories, including robbery, vandalism, and offences related to failing to fast. Meanwhile, arrests related to scams and child abuse, which were not recorded last year, appeared in this year’s data.
Ahead of Ramadan, the police had raised concerns about a consistent increase in theft cases during the holy month in previous years. The authorities had pledged to implement enhanced measures this year to address the issue. The reported decrease in theft and arrests may reflect the impact of these efforts.
