Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim’s remarks now carry heightened urgency: “There are more smuggled cigarettes than cigarettes imported with duty. The same is true of vape. Vape is available. There are social media accounts selling it.” The Exotic and Hawks cases show that this isn’t just a policy failure—it’s a multi-layered breach of public trust, with implications for national security, fiscal integrity, and institutional credibility. Summary Following the October 27, 2025 presentation of the 241 Committee’s report on escalating cigarette and vape smuggling, two additional cases—Exotic Enterprises and Hawks Pvt Ltd—have emerged as critical flashpoints. These incidents not only reinforce the … Continue reading Follow-Up Report: Deepening Tobacco Smuggling Crisis in the Maldives