Customs Seize 99,000 Cigarette Sticks Smuggled by Sea

Maldives Customs Service has seized 99,000 cigarette sticks that were being smuggled into the Maldives by sea.

Customs said the contraband was discovered on Thursday on a boat that docked at the Malé Commercial Harbour. Authorities confirmed the seizure in a post shared by the agency.

The agency did not disclose the name of the vessel involved or whether anyone connected to the smuggling attempt had been reported to the Maldives Police Service.

ކަނޑުމަގުން ރާއްޖެއަށް ސިއްރުން އެތެރެކުރަން އުޅުނު 99،000 ސިނގިރޭޓް ސްޓިކްސް ކަސްޓަމްސްއިން އަތުލައިގެންފި. pic.twitter.com/H110zklODp— Maldives Customs Service (@CustomsMv) March 7, 2026

The seizure comes amid increased enforcement against illegal tobacco imports.

Speaking last Thursday, the Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, said authorities had seized around two million cigarette sticks over the past one and a half months.