Deputy Customs Commissioner Reinstated Following Committee Review
Photo: Maldives Customs via FB
Deputy Commissioner of Customs Mahmood Riyaz, who was dismissed last month in connection with a major cigarette smuggling case, has been reinstated following a recommendation by the Parliament’s Security Services Committee (241 Committee).
ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ ސަލާމަތީ ޚިދުމަތްތަކާބެހޭ ކޮމިޓީން ކުރިއަށް ގެންދިޔަ ތަޙްޤީޤަކާ ގުޅިގެން މަޤާމުން ވަކިކުރެއްވި ކަސްޓަމްސްގެ ޑެޕިއުޓީ ކޮމިޝަނަރު މަޙްމޫދު ރިޔާޒްގެ މައްސަލަ، އެ ކޮމިޓީން އިތުރަށް ތަޙްޤީޤު ކުރެއްވުމަށްފަހު އެ މައްސަލައިގައި މަޙްމޫދު ރިޔާޒްގެ ބައިވެރިވުމެއް…
— Heena Waleed (@MvSpokesperson) November 8, 2025advertisement
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The Presidential Office confirmed the decision yesterday, with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu restoring Riyaz’s position after the committee concluded that he had no direct involvement in the smuggling operation.
Riyaz was removed from office on 29 October, shortly after Customs and Police launched an investigation into the illegal import of 200 master cartons of Manchester brand cigarettes aboard a vessel operated by The Hawks Pvt Ltd. The consignment was reportedly offloaded at the company’s Thilafushi boatyard without being declared on the ship’s manifest and later went missing from a bonded warehouse.
The 241 Committee submitted its recommendation to the President on Thursday after reviewing new evidence. Committee Vice-Chair and Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falaah announced during a meeting on Saturday that the committee had found no evidence linking Riyaz to the smuggling case.
The Hawks Pvt Ltd has denied corporate involvement in the incident, attributing responsibility to rogue employees. However, Manchester brand cigarettes continue to circulate in the local market at below-market prices, prompting concerns about the persistence of illicit distribution networks.
