President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has directed the Maldives Customs Service to take immediate legal and administrative action following the discovery of a major smuggling case involving cigarette cartons illegally imported and stolen from a bonded warehouse via an oil tanker owned by The Hawks Private Limited.
The President, in a post on his official X account, stated that the case had been thoroughly investigated by the Parliamentary Committee on National Security Services (241 Committee), revealing the illegal import of cigarette cartons and the unauthorised removal of the items from a bonded warehouse at the Hulhumalé Commercial Port—without Customs’ knowledge.
As a result of the investigation and consultations with the 241 Committee, two Deputy Commissioners of Customs have been removed from their posts in accordance with legal provisions. Furthermore, President Muizzu has instructed Customs to initiate internal disciplinary action against three other employees found to be implicated in the case.
The scale of the theft is staggering. The missing shipment consists of 1,360 cases—approximately 13.6 million individual cigarette sticks—with import duties exceeding MVR 100 million. Customs had seized the cigarettes, but they were reportedly smuggled out of the bonded warehouse in a deliberate and orchestrated operation.
President Muizzu reaffirmed his government’s commitment to upholding accountability, transparency, and the rule of law, stating that all individuals responsible, regardless of rank, would be held accountable.