Authorities levy MVR 150,000 in vape fines in Aug

Authorities levied MVR 150,000 in fines in August under the ban on vaping devices and e-cigarettes in the Maldives.

Maldives introduced amendments to the Tobacco Control Act in December 2024, prohibiting the import, sale, free distribution, and use of vaping devices and e-cigarettes in the country.

In a statement on Monday, the police said they recorded 11 incidents related to vapes and e-cigarettes in the month of August. This included:

• Use of vapes or e-cigarettes: 4 incidents
• Possession of vapes or e-cigarettes: 4 incidents
• Other: 3 incidents

The police levied total MVR 150,000 in fines for violating the ban on vapes and e-cigarettes. This includes MVR 85,000 in fines for vaping and MVR 65,000 in fines for possession of vapes and e-cigarettes.

The fines were imposed on total 30 individuals, 16 of whom were fined for possession, while the remaining 14 were fined for use.

The new anti-smoking laws introduced the following fines:

• MVR 5,000 for use of vapes
• MVR 20,000 for the sale of vape
• MVR 10,000 per vaping device sold
• MVR 10,000 for free distribution of vapes

Maldives implemented a blanket ban on the import, sale, free distribution, and use of vaping devices and e-cigarettes in mid-December last year as part of a campaign against smoking launched by President Muizzu’s administration. In May, the administration introduced a generational smoking ban in the Maldives, banning smoking for all Maldivian citizens born in or after 2007, starting November.