New Delhi, April 23 -- The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Thursday issued a high-priority warning to Indian nationals travelling to the Maldives, urging "extreme vigilance" as the island nation implements a drastic overhaul of its anti-narcotics legislation.

Under the amended Maldives' Drugs Act, which officially took effect in March 2026, the country has introduced some of the world's most stringent penalties for drug-related crimes. The NCB cautioned that under the new legal framework, "ignorance of the law is not a defence," and any violation will result in severe judicial consequences.

The revised statutes significantly escalate the legal stakes for travellers:

Capital Punishment: Large-scale drug trafficking now carries the dea...