Maldives Customs Service has seized over 13 million cigarette sticks in a recent smuggling interception at the sea cargo terminal.
According to Customs, the cigarettes were discovered concealed within a plywood shipment during an inspection. A total of 1,360 cases were found inside two 40-foot containers, amounting to 13,600,000 cigarette sticks.
Customs has not yet disclosed the name of the company involved in the attempted import.
Authorities stated that the duty payable on the seized cigarettes, based on regular brand prices, would have amounted to MVR 122 million.
Under current regulations, the import of cigarettes requires a special permit, and products must carry warning message labels. Customs confirmed that the cigarettes in question were being brought in unlawfully, in violation of these requirements.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
