Drugs worth MVR 72M, 2M cigarettes and 7,000 vapes seized in one and half months

Maldives Customs Service has successfully seized drugs with an estimated value of MVR 72 million, along with two million smuggled cigarettes and 7,000 vape devices over the past one and a half months.

Speaking at a press conference held at the President's Office on Thursday, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, disclosed that Customs intercepted a total of 83.45 kilograms of narcotics during this period, placing the street value of the seized drugs at approximately MVR 72 million.

He elaborated that 72 kilograms of these narcotics were confiscated in eight separate cases while attempts were being made to smuggle them across the border. They are alone valued at MVR 59 million.

The Minister attributed these successful seizures to the dedicated efforts of personnel from both the Maldives Police Service and the Maldives Customs Service.

"This is the result of extensive work carried out by Customs through modern border security intelligence techniques and by operationalizing critical information received through intelligence. It also reflects the tireless, 24-hour efforts of the Maldives Police Service across the country," the Minister stated.

Additionally, Minister Ihusaan reported that 7,000 vape devices and two million illegally imported cigarettes were confiscated during the same period.

Drug-related offenses continue to pose a significant challenge in the Maldives, with increasing involvement of youth and minors in such activities. In response, the government has been implementing strengthened measures to curb the importation and distribution of narcotics.

In line with the administration’s anti-tobacco initiatives, import duty on cigarettes was doubled, effective November 1, 2024. Subsequently, the importation of vape products was prohibited on November 15, 2024, followed by a comprehensive ban on the possession and use of vapes beginning December 15, 2024.

Since the implementation of these regulations, authorities have observed a noticeable increase in attempts to smuggle cigarettes and vape products. According to Customs, the largest shipment of vapes seized since the ban was intercepted on December 4.