India warns travelers on Maldives drug laws

India's Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has issued a strong advisory to Indian travelers visiting the Maldives following recent amendments to the country's drug laws. The amended Drugs Act, effective March 2026, introduces significantly harsher penalties, including life imprisonment and, in certain large-scale trafficking cases, the death penalty. The NCB cautioned travelers not to carry packages for others, to be vigilant at transit points, and to maintain full control over personal belongings. The advisory comes after recent arrests of foreign nationals, including Indians, in the Maldives for drug-related offences.