Maldives Have Many Drug Addicts. But Why Are They Smuggling Snakes?

Blog: Drug addiction has been grave social problem in the Maldives for over a decade. Under the governance of the new president there has been increased arrest of drug smugglers and dealers. Maldives police raided a home last night and found drugs and 2 prohibited animals; an albino banded Californian king snake and a Mexican red knee tarantula. Another police raid about a week ago captured a python. Couple of months back it was a rare and protection animal called slow loris. Now the question is what is the connection between drug addicts and harmful or are animals? When questioned, the police said it was just for show off, addicts like being cool with keeping it on the shoulder or wound around the neck.


Photo: Mexican red knee tarantula found in a drug raid

These snakes are poisonous. How could they use these snakes like that? The social media showed some pictures of seemingly-addicts having snakes on their body. When you look at the picture you know that its native species which is non-venomous. The illegally smuggled snakes are venomous and could put a person to death.


Photo: Albino banded Californian king snake found in the same house as the spider

There are many drug dealers in the Maldives. If you were a dealer you would obviously need to market your stuff. If you could smuggle in a prohibited snake or a protected animal how could you use that to market your business? Could you show it to your customers to prove that you are a direct agent? Not a sub-agent, wholesaler or retailer. For me it is more probable to believe that they are using these smuggled animals as marketing tool, not just to show off how cool you are.

Maldivesfinest is mainly covering travel and holiday topics. These blogs are meant to address major problem in our country from our personal perspective. While the drug addicts are there and government tries to rehabilitate them, the tourism industry is not affected at all. You can still get the perfect holiday in paradise.



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