Maldives Customs Seizes Over 8,000 Cartons of Smuggled Cigarettes

In a significant operation, MaldivesCustoms officials have seized 8,450 cartons of smuggled cigarettes, amounting to approximately 1.695 million sticks, after a raid on a vessel and shipyard associated with the Maldives-based oil importer, Hawks Pvt Ltd. Acting on a tip-off, the Customs Department intercepted the haul on Friday night, following initial intelligence that the tanker MT Hawks Jawahiru was attempting to smuggle large quantities of cigarettes into the Maldives.

The seizure was carried out at Hawks Boat Yard in Thilafushi, where authorities conducted a thorough search under court orders. Customs has since placed the confiscated Manchester brand cigarettes under official custody and stated that further investigations are ongoing.

According to the Customs statement, the smuggled cigarettes had initially been transported from MT Hawks Jawahiru to a local vessel named Hawks Roadhi which ferried the contraband to the Hawks shipyard. Customs officials, suspecting additional hidden stockpiles, continue to search the premises for any further evidence of illicit cargo.

The Customs Department has seized a total of 84,500 boxes or 8,450 cartons of cigarettes in the operation so far. All recovered cigarettes are now securely in Customs custody, said the agency. The Maldives Customs services has indicated it is closely monitoring the case and will enforce all aspects of the Customs Act to curb such illegal import activities.

The Hawks company, however, has distanced itself from the incident, emphasizing in a statement today that it had no part in the smuggling operation. Asserting its reputation as a profitable and transparent oil trading enterprise, Hawks clarified that it is neither involved in nor interested in the business of importing tobacco products. The company stressed its commitment to cooperating fully with law enforcement.

“We categorically deny any allegations linking Hawks to the smuggling of cigarettes. The Hawks is a transparent business, and we pledge our full cooperation with investigating authorities to identify those responsible,” the company’s statement read. Hawks also revealed that internal administrative actions have been taken, including suspending several employees suspected of exploiting company resources for illegal activities, as evidenced by recent security footage.

“Hawks upholds a zero-tolerance policy for illegal activities. It is disheartening to discover that a few employees may have been involved in such misconduct,” added the company, which employs over 900 staff from various nationalities.

The government’s recent decision to increase import duties on cigarettes and bidis, effective next month, has sparked discussions on the economic ramifications of such incidents. Customs and police continue their joint operation, promising intensified scrutiny and enforcement under the Customs Act as they probe the details of the attempted smuggling and the individuals involved.