News Desk
Male’, Maldives – Law enforcement officials descended on the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare on Sunday, executing a raid as part of an ongoing corruption investigation, authorities confirmed. The operation, which involved both police and representatives from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), marks a significant escalation in scrutiny of the recently established ministry.
A police spokesperson told local media that the raid was underway but declined to provide specifics about the nature of the corruption allegations. Similarly, an ACC official confirmed the agency’s involvement, stating that investigators had entered the ministry to pursue a case under joint scrutiny with the police. No further details about the investigation were disclosed, leaving the scope and targets of the probe unclear.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare was created as a standalone entity after the current government took office, splitting off from the Ministry of Fisheries, which previously oversaw both sectors. The restructuring aimed to prioritize agricultural development and animal welfare, but the young ministry now finds itself at the center of a high-profile investigation.
Neither the police nor the ACC commented on whether any arrests were made or documents seized during the raid. The raid comes at a time of heightened public sensitivity to government accountability, with the ACC increasingly active in probing allegations of misconduct across state institutions.
Officials from the ministry could not be reached for comment on Sunday.
