President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has revealed that two deputy Commissioners at the Maldives Customs Services have been sacked for smuggling cigarettes into the Maldives and for the illegal release of cigarette cartons from a bonded warehouse under the customs' authority.
In a post on X, the President said that the Committee on the Security Services of the People's Majlis (241 Committee) has investigated the issue of cigarette cartons being smuggled into the Maldives on a boat belonging to "The Hawks Private Limited" in violation of the law and regulations, as well as cigarette cartons found in a bonded warehouse being released by the Maldives Customs Service in violation of the law and regulations.
The President further said that, based on the recommendation made by the Parliament, he has decided to sack two individuals holding the position of Deputy Commissioner of Customs.
The individuals have been identified as Abdullah Waheed and Mahmood Riza.
President Muizzu also said that 3 Customs officers have been flagged for further investigation under the rules and regulations of the Service and has instructed the Customs Service to take action based on the findings of the investigation.
The illegal cigarettes were smuggled on board a Hawks ship, the MT Hawks Jewellery, in late October last year. Customs seized about 1.7 million cigarettes from the ship and its shipyard in Thilafushi.
