Police carried out 415 raids across gang crime hotspots in Male’ and Hulhumale’ over the weekend, the Gang Crime Suppression Department has confirmed.

During the coordinated operation, officers questioned 94 individuals and searched six vehicles.

Four of those vehicles were later impounded.

Police also conducted more than nine hours of foot patrols as part of efforts to increase visibility and deter criminal activity.

Authorities noted that the operation was conducted under the newly enacted Prevention of Gang Crimes Act, which grants law enforcement broader authority to identify and classify organized groups as gangs and take targeted action against them.

Police said that since the legislation came into effect, multiple locations have been raided and at least one case has been forwarded to the Prosecutor General’s Office seeking to formally designate a group as a gang.

However, prosecutors have requested further clarification before proceeding.

Sustained enforcement and stronger community cooperation are seen as essential to reducing gang-related violence.