Civil Court has ordered Exotic Enterprises to pay MVR 47 million to the state in the disappearance of a large number of cigarettes from a bonded warehouse registered to the company.
The disappearance of a large number of cigarettes from a bonded warehouse registered to Exotics Enterprises had come to the attention of the media some time back. The case had come to light during a meeting held by the Parliament’s Committee on National Security Services on the disappearance of a large number of cigarettes from two bonded warehouses and the smuggling of 8,400 cigarette cartons by fuel trader, The Hawks, via Thilafushi Boat Yard jetty.
Exotic Enterprises’ registry had been suspended over the disappearance of the cigarettes from the bonded warehouse.
Civil Court delivered its ruling in the case on Monday in the absence of Exotic Enterprises. In this regard, Judge Aishath Azfa ordered the company to pay a total of MVR 47,182,011 within two weeks.
Parliament’s Deputy Speaker and Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim said the disappearance of a large number of cigarettes from a bonded warehouse registered to Exotic Enterprises during a stock count after Customs was notified of a change in the company’s shareholding structure. He has described the disappearance as a planned “heist”.
According to the Economic Ministry business portal, Exotic Enterprises’ current shareholders are Mohamed Shareef and Abdul Ahadh Adnan, who were appointed directors of the company on January 14, 2024.
The company registered its bonded warehouse with Maldives Customs Service on November 23.
241 Committee’s findings show that PNC’s Hithaadhoo MP Mohamed Siruhaan was awarded shares from Exotic Enterprises coinciding with the same time 575 cartons of cigarettes from the warehouse were exported despite a court order prohibiting clearance of the shipment. 
Exotic Enterprises had allegedly imported a brand of cigarettes in violation of exclusive import rights held by another party. The brand’s rights holder obtained a court order preventing the release of the goods, which were then stored in the bonded warehouse.