Maldives Customs Destroys 1.83 Million Smuggled Cigarettes Amid Tobacco Crackdown

The Maldives Customs Service has destroyed 1.83 million smuggled cigarettes seized at Addu port, the agency confirmed yesterday. The cigarette sticks were incinerated at the Hithadhoo port area as part of ongoing enforcement efforts.

The destruction follows a broader government crackdown on tobacco smuggling, which intensified after the import duty on cigarettes was increased on 31 October 2024. The duty on a box of 20 cigarettes was raised from MVR 60 to MVR 160, causing retail prices to rise from MVR 110 to MVR 250 per pack.

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Traders have reported a sharp decline in legal cigarette sales since the increase, while authorities have observed a rise in the production of self-made cigarettes and attempts to smuggle tobacco products.

Customs statistics show a significant drop in cigarette imports. From January to June 2023, over 167 million cigarettes were imported, compared with just 41 million between January and July 2025, a reduction of 126 million sticks.

The Finance Ministry has reported that import duty revenue this year has reached only 61 percent of the estimated total. Nearly four months after the duty hike, Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim stated that state revenue had declined due to the reduced volume of cigarette imports, identifying the shortfall in tobacco-related revenue as a key factor.