On the occasion of the 136th anniversary of the Maldives Customs Service, the Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology, Ali Ihusaan has outlined a roadmap that will see the agency’s operations increasingly shaped by digital technologies.
In a message commemorating the occasion, the Minister praised the service as the nation’s longest‑standing state institution, noting its pivotal role in safeguarding national security, facilitating legitimate trade and securing a substantial share of government revenue.
The Minister noted that since the incumbent government took office, Customs has made remarkable progress in intercepting drugs and illegal contraband at the island nation’s borders – a trend that has continued over the past two and a half years. He expressed confidence that Customs officers will maintain this vital work for the Maldivian people in the years ahead.
Minister Ihusaan emphasised that the future of Customs will be defined by a strengthened, digital‑first environment.
“In the future, the work of Customs will be shaped by strengthening services, a digitalised environment and more technology embedded in enforcement,” he said, adding that efforts are already underway to digitise customs processes and to expand customs offices across Greater Male’ and the atolls.
The Maldives Customs Service traces its origins to 18 July 1890. It was renamed the Maldives Customs Service on 11 November 1998 and later transformed into a civilian entity outside the civil service under the Customs Act of 11 May 2011.