News Desk
Malé, Maldives — The disappearance of 31 cartons of cigarettes from the custody of the Vilimale’ Police Station has prompted a high‑level investigation, police said in a statement calling the loss “unacceptable under any circumstances.”
The cartons, all of the Manchester brand, were seized in two separate cases last year. Six cartons were part of a larger haul of 32 cartons confiscated from a foreign national on May 23, while another 25 cartons were seized from two foreigners on December 23. Police said the missing cartons were discovered when the seized goods were handed over to customs earlier this month.
“The loss of items in police custody is unacceptable under any circumstances,” the statement read, adding that any violation of the agency’s ethical standards would be investigated with priority. “This is also in direct violation of the spirit of hard work that should be seen in the conduct of the police.”
The Professional Standards Command has opened an inquiry into administrative lapses at the Vilimale’ station, while a separate criminal investigation is underway. Police emphasized that accountability and integrity remain central to the force’s mission, vowing not to allow “any employee to undermine the reputation of the agency or lose the trust of the public.”
The missing cartons were later recovered from Thilafushi, the industrial island west of Malé, though details of how they ended up there remain unclear.
The case comes amid a broader investigation into cigarette thefts in the Maldives. In October, police uncovered the disappearance of 13.6 million cigarettes from the custody of Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) at the Hulhumalé port. That case, involving the theft of an entire container, has led to the arrest of 10 suspects so far.
These incidents have become increasingly frequent following the government’s change in tobacco policy, which tightened restrictions on imports and sales. The stricter regulations appear to have heightened the value of contraband, creating new incentives for theft and smuggling. For law enforcement, the repeated losses highlight vulnerabilities in oversight and raise questions about institutional capacity to enforce the very policies meant to curb tobacco use.
For the Maldives, where smuggling and contraband remain persistent challenges, the loss of cigarettes — whether in police custody or at port facilities — has become a test of institutional credibility.
