Maldives Police Service (MPS) has revealed that there are 44 gangs active across the congested capital, Malé City alone, of which nine are believed to be extremely dangerous.

This was revealed through a presentation by the police institution at the “Viavathi Raajje” conference being hosted in Ukulhas island of Alif Alif atoll, on Saturday.

As such, the presentation saw attendees briefed on the gangs currently active across the capital and how they operate .

With many violent groups currently operational across the capital, police stressed that they fear the presence of these violent groups may expand across outlying atolls as well.

According to the police institution, other than the capital, the highest rate of active violent groups in the Maldives has been detected from southern atolls.

It was also revealed that police are yet to identify any perceptible criminal activities in areas across northern and central atolls.

Further, police revealed that about 2,800 individuals have been identified to be involved in such groups, out of which 60 have been identified as children.

They went on to reveal that natives of northern and central atolls are also observed to be on the frontlines of these groups.

With this being said, MPS expressed fear of gang presence expanding across the atolls, as atoll natives are already involved with different gangs across the capital city.

Police also revealed that weapons used by gang members have changed over the years, highlighting that while it was usually iron rods and swords they chose as weapons in previous years, it has since evolved to less discernable weapons that are easy to hide from authorities.

Noting that the biggest networks run by such gangs are involved in drugs and narcotics smuggling, MPS revealed that drug kingpins are also involved in other illegal trade. It has also come to the attention of the authority that these kingpins get themselves involved in politics and different parties to spread their influence.

Police statistics reveal that 31 murders have been linked to gang violence so far, of which nine victims have been identified to have no links to gangs and groups. As such, these individuals were killed “accidentally” or “ by mistake ”.