President Dr.Mohamed Muizzu has reinstated Deputy Commissioner of Customs Mahmood Riyaz after the Parliament's Security Services Committee (241 Committee) determined that he was not involved in the cigarette smuggling cases.
Last month, President Muizzu moved to sack Riyaz, along with another Deputy Commissioner at Customs, upon the recommendation of the 241 Committee.
The Committee made the recommendation after it 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.
Riyaz took to social media to state his innocence, insisting that he had never been involved in anything illegal during his 33 years of service as a Customs Officer.
Last Thursday, the 241 Committee recommended that the President reinstate the former Deputy Commissioner, and this was confirmed last night by the Presidential Spokesperson, Heena Waleed.
In a post on X, Heena said that the 241 Committee cleared Riyaz of any wrongdoing after an extensive investigation. She also said that the President heeded the Committee's recommendation and has since reinstated Riyaz to his post.
