The Maldives Customs Service on Sunday confiscated MVR 13 million worth of cigarettes being smuggled into the island nation as contraband.
The cigarette consignment had been hidden within a plywood shipment that had already landed in the Maldives. A special operation, following an intel report, was conducted on April 26th by the Customs authority at Maldives Ports Limited’s (MPL) Hulhumale’ sea cargo terminal.
Authorities discovered 1,360 cases of cigarettes hidden inside two 40-foot containers at the site, which have a total value of MVR 13,600,000. The brands of cigarettes discovered hidden in these containers consist of brands which are subject to hefty duties as well, and as duty alone Customs would stand to claim MVR 122 million.