The Maldives Customs Service has seized more than 13 million cigarettes smuggled into the country.
The cigarettes were confiscated in a special operation conducted by customs following intelligence reports of an attempt to smuggle in a large quantity of cigarettes into the Maldives concealed in a shipment of plywood arriving by sea. The items were seized early Saturday at the Sea Cargo terminal in Hulhumale’.
According to Customs, 1,360 cases of cigarettes, amounting to 13,600,000 cigarette sticks, were found in two 40-foot containers. The seized cigarettes are estimated to carry a customs duty value of approximately MVR 122 million, as per the customs duty prices for the brands included in the shipment.
The smuggling attempt violated the Tobacco Control Act. Customs confirmed that further investigation is ongoing.
