Addu cigarette smuggle; worth MVR 15M

Maldives Customs has confirmed the seizure of smuggled cigarettes valued at an estimated MVR 15 million from the Hithadhoo Regional Port in Addu.

Customs, who had previously confirmed the seizure, has now released further details regarding the incident. A total of 1.8 million cigarettes, with an estimated market value of MVR 15 million, were confiscated.

The case is currently under investigation by Customs authorities.

This incident follows a previous seizure in April of this year, where over 100,000 cigarettes were confiscated in Addu.

The increase in such incidents coincides with a rise in cigarette prices, attributed to the government's increase in duty on tobacco products. This has, in turn, led to an escalation in cigarette smuggling activities.