Customs Seizes Over 1.8 Million Smuggled Cigarettes Worth MVR 15 Million in Duties

Maldives Customs has seized more than 1.8 million cigarettes that were being smuggled into the country, with the estimated duty on the contraband valued at around MVR 15 million.In a statement rel...

Mohamed Hilmy

25 September 2025, 05:00

Maldives Customs has seized more than 1.8 million cigarettes that were being smuggled into the country, with the estimated duty on the contraband valued at around MVR 15 million.

In a statement released today, Customs said the cigarettes were discovered during an inspection of a shipment that arrived by sea at Addu Hithadhoo Port. The authority confirmed that the seized consignment contained 1,840,000 cigarette sticks.

While Customs did not disclose further details regarding the shipment or those involved, the agency noted that the case remains under investigation.

This is not the first time Customs has intercepted attempts to smuggle cigarettes into the Maldives. Authorities have previously uncovered similar operations, particularly following the government’s decision late last year to raise cigarette prices. Since then, the market has seen a rise in counterfeit brands and illegally imported cigarettes being sold across the country.

Customs Seizes Over 1.8 Million Smuggled Cigarettes Worth MVR 15 Million in Duties

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