MP Mohamed Siruhan Denies Involvement in Cigarette Smuggling Allegations
Photo: MohdSiruhaan via X
Ruling PNC lawmaker and Hithaadhoo MP Mohamed Siruhan has denied any unlawful activity occurred during his time as a shareholder of Exotic Enterprises.
އެގްޒޮޓިކް އެންޓަޕްރައިޒަސް ނަމަކަށް ކިޔާ ކުންފުންޏާއި އަޅުގަނޑާއި ގުޅުވައި ދެކެވޭ ވާހަކަތަކާއި ގުޅިގެން ނެރޭ ނޫސްބަޔާން pic.twitter.com/3VJWyB3otQ
— Mohamed Siruhaan (@MohdSiruhaan) October 27, 2025advertisement
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A report by Parliament’s National Security Services Committee (241 Committee) noted that shares of Exotic Enterprises were transferred to Siruhan at a time when cigarette cartons were allegedly smuggled into the Maldives.
Siruhan stated that Exotic Enterprises already had a bonded warehouse registered with the Maldives Customs Service when he joined the company. He said he relinquished shares in all companies where he had a stake, including Exotic Enterprises, shortly after joining, in order to focus on his political career.
The lawmaker insisted that no illegal transactions took place while he was a shareholder. He added that the share transfer followed a company audit, and all records of goods stored at the company’s facilities, including the bonded warehouse, were properly documented.
Siruhan emphasised that the audit confirmed no illegal exports had occurred from the company’s bonded warehouses, and rejected claims linking his shareholding to the illegal export of cigarettes as “categorically false.” He added that any unlawful actions by the company after he divested his shares were not connected to him, and described attempts to link him to the smuggling as efforts to undermine his political position.
The Committee’s report indicates that Siruhan held shares in Exotic Enterprises when the company allegedly imported Camel brand cigarettes in breach of exclusive import rights. Records show the company registered its bonded warehouse with Customs on 3 December 2023, initially under directors Lubna Hussain Manik and Abdullah Hassan. By 9 December 2023, the board listed Lubna Hussain Manik and Mohamed Siruhan, who had not yet been elected to Parliament. Siruhan was elected in April 2024.
When the cigarettes were exported, the board had changed again, listing Abdul Ahadh Adnan and Mohamed Shareef as directors. Official records show Camel brand cigarettes were imported on 9 December 2023, and a court order on 25 December 2023 suspended clearance of the shipment. Despite the order, cigarettes were removed from the warehouse on 15 April and 8 May 2024. Customs was informed of the incident on 30 October 2024 by the Security Services Committee.
An inspection revealed that the bonded warehouse was no longer operational and had been replaced by another office. A total of 575 cases of cigarettes were exported, with duties of MVR 47 million imposed. The case was referred to the Attorney General’s Office in February 2025.
