News Desk
MALÉ, Maldives — Maldives Customs Service seized 130,155 cigarettes smuggled into the country, uncovered during an inspection at Addu International Airport on Saturday. The operation, targeting a shipment bound for the Maldives, marks the latest escalation in a surge of cigarette smuggling cases following a steep increase in tobacco duties.
Customs officials confirmed the seizure in a statement but declined to disclose further details, noting that no arrests have been made. The lack of specifics has left questions about the smuggling network behind the operation, which involved more than 100,000 cigarettes concealed to evade detection.
The seizure comes amid heightened enforcement efforts spurred by amendments to the Tobacco Control Act, passed in November 2024. The law not only banned the importation and use of vapes but also prohibited materials used to produce tobacco products like bidis and sutta, a type of hand-rolled cigarette from leaves, imported to the Maldives. A significant hike in cigarette duties last December has driven up prices, fueling a black market and a corresponding spike in smuggling attempts.
Just last month, Velana International Airport was the scene of a related incident when three individuals, including a police officer and a former MNDF officer, were arrested for attempting to smuggle cartons of cigarettes hidden in dustbin bags. The suspects were detained but have since been released, according to customs officials, who continue to investigate the smuggling operation.
Saturday’s seizure at Addu International Airport underscores the challenges facing authorities as smugglers exploit the high cost of legal cigarettes driven by recent duty hikes. The Maldives, a hub for international tourism, has become a focal point for illicit tobacco trafficking, with customs officials increasingly vigilant at key entry points.
Customs authorities declined to comment on whether the latest seizure is linked to prior cases or part of a broader smuggling ring. For now, the 130,155 confiscated cigarettes stand as a stark reminder of the economic pressures and enforcement hurdles reshaping the tobacco trade.
