Maldives Police Services says many are now involved in fruit and vegetable import scams in the Maldives and many foreign companies are left in wake of such scammers.
Police said that it had received many reports about such incidences and had prompted its economic crime department and Intelligence Unit to join hands to start investigations to curb such crimes.
Police said during this investigation its officers had raided three houses in Male' as well as three apartments and 1 office on the 16th of this month. It said that police had recovered evidence on the reports it had received from the raid.
Police economic crime unit had said that the police had received 10 reports about scammers who had imported fruit and vegetable from foreign exporters who were left unpaid for the imported goods. It said one such report was made this month as well.
Police said such goods would be sold way cheaper than the market price but such acts would destabilize the import market and in turn the economy. Police said that as the Maldives is heavily dependent on its import goods, such acts by a select few would tarnish the country's reputation on the international market.
Police advised the public to be more vigilant of such scams and to stop supporting these illegal businesses by buying goods from them.
It also encouraged the public to report to the police regarding such scams.
