5,600 Vape Cartridges Seized at Malé Harbour in Smuggling Crackdown

Maldives Customs officials have seized 5,600 vape cartridges following a targeted operation at the Malé Commercial Harbour yesterday, after suspicions were raised over a sea cargo shipment declared as general goods. 

Officials inspected the shipment and discovered a large quantity of vape products concealed within the cargo. The items were taken into Customs custody following the operation.

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There has been a significant rise in illicit vape smuggling and black-market activity since the Maldives imposed a blanket ban on the import, sale, use and distribution of vape products in 2024. Enforcement agencies have since stepped up inspection and seizure efforts across incoming shipments.

ކަނޑުމަގުން ރާއްޖެ ގެނައި މުދާ ޝިޕްމެންޓެއްގައި ޤާނޫނާ ގަވާއިދާ ޚިލާފް ތަކެތި ހުރެދާނެކަމަށް ކަސްޓަމްސްއަށް ބެލެވިގެން، ޖޫން 17 ވަނަ ދުވަހު، މާލޭ ކޮމާޝަލް ހާބަރުގައި،ޚާއްސަ އޮޕަރޭޝަނެއް ވަނީ ހިންގިފައި. pic.twitter.com/H95bC8p0D5— Maldives Customs Service (@CustomsMv) June 18, 2026

In operations conducted earlier this week on Sunday and Monday, Customs officers uncovered 1,108 vape cartridges hidden inside cans of Mr Potato-branded chips and packets of chocolate powder. Officers also recovered 27 vape devices during the same inspections.

In March, Minister of Homeland Security, Labor and Technology Ali Ihusaan stated that the Maldives Police Service and Maldives Customs Service had jointly seized over 83 kilogrammes of drugs, 7,000 vape products and two million cigarettes over a six-week period, reflecting intensified enforcement against illicit imports.