Missing cigarettes smuggled under Binladin Group's name

It has been reported that the cigarettes that went missing from the MPL Hulhumale' port were brought under Saudi Binladin Group's name .

Binladin Group has various projects underway in Maldives. One of their more recent works was the completion of Velana International Airport's new terminal.

The shipment consisted of 1,360 cigarette cases in two 40-foot containers, totaling 13,600,000 cigarettes. This would amount to more than MVR 100 million in import duty for the state.

The containers were initially found among a plywood shipment at the Hulhumale' International Terminal on 26 April 2024.

A senior customs official told Mihaaru News that the loss was discovered last night and that an investigation has now been launched.

The senior customs official told Mihaaru News that once the two containers were seized by Customs, they were put under MPL's authority.

The containers were handed to MPL with the required documentation, with the cigarettes not being destroyed at the time, as the investigation into their smuggling was still ongoing.

"The investigation is still ongoing, with the case having been sent to the Prosecutor General's office," said the official.

The senior customs official said that all products are kept at the port under MPL's watch until all the required documents are procured. The official also stated that items under investigation be kept at the port and that this has always been the common practice.