Is Methaqualone (Quaaludes) legal in Falkland Islands (UK)?

Legal status

Class B controlled drug in the Falkland Islands, or Class A in a preparation designed for injection. Part 2 of the Schedule to the Misuse of Drugs Ordinance 1987 names «Methaqualone».

Consequences if caught

Part 2, paragraph 1(a) of the Schedule lists «Methaqualone» and its analogue «Mecloqualone»; paragraphs 2 to 4 add stereoisomers, salts and any preparation containing it. Part 1, paragraph 6 of the Schedule moves «Any preparation designed for administration by injection which includes a substance or product for the time being specified in any of paragraphs 1 to 3 of Part 2 of this Schedule» into Class A, so an injectable preparation carries the Class A penalties instead: up to 14 years and a level 10 fine, £125,000, for possession with intent to supply, supply or import, and 7 years and a level 8 fine, £25,000, for possession. Penalties under the Ordinance for a Class B drug other than cannabis: importing or exporting it (section 3), producing or supplying it or offering to supply it (section 4), possessing it with intent to supply (section 5(2)) and permitting production or supply on premises one occupies (section 8) each carry up to 14 years' imprisonment and a fine at level 10; possessing it (section 5(1)) carries up to 5 years and a fine at level 6. Section 17 gives an attempt or incitement the same punishment as the offence, and an importation charged under section 43(3) of the Customs Ordinance 2003 carries the same 14 years and level 10 by its Schedule 1. Schedule 8 to the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Ordinance 2014 sets level 10 on the standard scale at £125,000, level 8 at £25,000, level 6 at £10,000 and level 4 at £2,000. Section 480(4) of that Ordinance makes a penalty printed at the foot of a section the maximum, and where it joins penalties with the word and they «may be inflicted alternatively or cumulatively». This is stated as at the legislation.gov.fk consolidation of the Ordinance in force from 10 April 2019, whose Schedule is the one substituted by S.R. & O. 20/2014 with effect from 23 December 2014. Section 2(4) lets the Governor by Order add a substance to, or remove one from, Parts 1 to 3 of the Schedule. No Misuse of Drugs Order appears in the Gazette indexes for 2023, 2024 or 2025 or in Supplements 1 to 16 of 2026, and the portal's title search for misuse returns only the Ordinance, the 1989 Designation and Regulations Orders, the 1997 Regulations Order and two 2022 instruments, neither of which amends the Schedule. This does not rule out a later Order.

If prescribed or medical

It is printed in Schedule 2 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations Order 1997, so regulation 10(2) would protect possession only for administration «in accordance with the directions of a practitioner», and section 3(1) bars importing it without a Chief Medical Officer licence under section 3(2).

Documentation

The controlling law for methaqualone in the Falkland Islands is the territory's own Misuse of Drugs Ordinance 1987 and the instruments made under it, read on legislation.gov.fk, the Falkland Islands Government statute database.

Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Falkland Islands (UK)’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.