Maldives Customs Service has seized more than 8.5 million cigarettes allegedly concealed in a cargo shipment in an attempt to smuggle them into the country by sea.
The cigarettes were discovered during a special operation conducted at Malé Commercial Harbour last Sunday after Customs received intelligence indicating that illegal goods may have been hidden in an incoming shipment.
Customs officers inspected the shipment, which had been declared as general cargo, and discovered large quantities of cigarettes concealed inside.
A total of 8,527,480 cigarette sticks were recovered from the shipment and subsequently taken into Customs custody.
The seizure represents a significant quantity of tobacco products intercepted at the country’s main commercial port. The shipment had arrived in the Maldives by sea, with the cigarettes allegedly hidden among cargo declared under a different description.
Customs has not disclosed further details about the origin of the shipment, its intended recipient or whether any arrests have been made in connection with the case.
The agency said an investigation remains underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the attempted import and those responsible.
Maldives Customs regularly carries out intelligence-led inspections at ports of entry as part of efforts to detect undeclared, prohibited and illegally imported goods. Cargo shipments may be subjected to additional examination when authorities identify discrepancies or receive information suggesting that goods have been concealed.
Further details on the latest seizure are expected as the investigation progresses.
