A Bangladeshi café worker has been arrested from Male’ with dozens of vape cartridges and cash in a police crackdown on the illegal vape trade.
In a statement on Thursday morning, the police said that the suspect was arrested in an operation based on information received by Police Intelligence.
According to police, MD Abu Sufian, 27, Bangladesh, is suspected selling and trading in vaping devices - which have been banned in the Maldives since mid-December.
The police raided Abu Sufyan’s residence as well as the café where he works, and seized 84 vape cartridges and an unspecified amount of cash – which the police believe to be proceeds from the sale of vapes.
However, the police did not say when the operation was conducted.
The police said they also raided a shop in the Galolhu district and seized “a large number of vapes” in a separate case involving illegal vape trade.
Police raid a shop in Galolhu district of Male' City. (Photo/Maldives Police Service)
The police did not specify when the second operation was conducted either.
The police said they were joined by officials from the Health Ministry and the Economic Ministry in the operation.
Both cases are under further investigation by the police.
The ban on the import, sale, free distribution, and use of vaping devices and e-cigarettes in the Maldives took effect on December 15, 2024.
Information released by the police show that the state imposed MVR 130,500 in fines on 23 people for 28 violations of the ban by the end of January.