All attempts to smuggle liquor to Maafushi during Eid stopped: Ihusaan

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, said today that police had seized all liquor attempted to be smuggled into Kaafu Atoll Maafushi, located about 30 minutes from Male' by speedboat, during the Eid-al-Adha holiday.

Speaking at the Parliament Committee on National Security Services, Minister Ihusaan stated that targeted efforts are being carried out to curb alcohol trafficking into residential islands. He further revealed that alcohol is mostly smuggled into Male' City via safaris docked at Hulhumale' harbour.

"The liquor that Customs [Maldives Customs Services] approves for safaris is being distributed from vessels docked in the Hulhumale' lagoon and vessels docked outside the lagoons of some islands," he said.

Two solutions have been proposed to end this, including the audit of safaris through Customs, and inspecting the vessels, said Ihusaan.

He added that requests to terminate permits for vessels that fail the audits are being sent to the Ministry of Tourism as well as the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.

"Liquor is being taken [to safaris] in amounts that do not coincide with the taxes they pay. Liquor is also being taken aboard in amounts that do not match the number of guests onboard. As such, this is something authorities are now aware of and action is currently being taken," said the Minister.

"We have intercepted all the liquor that was attempted to be smuggled into Maafushi during Eid and confiscated all the liquor on the safari," he said.

However, he did not reveal the amount of alcohol seized.

From November 17, 2023, narcotics worth MVR 15 million, including alcohol, have been seized so far this year, Minister Ihusaan said.

He added that amendments must be made to regulations to permanently end the smuggling of liquor from safaris to residential islands, and assured that these amendments will be included in the bills that will be submitted to the parliament in the next month or so.