Customs names entities with unpaid dues; Sultans at top

Maldives Customs Service has started publishing names of entities which have overdue payments pending. 

On Saturday, Customs released a list containing 680 such names. This includes individuals, as well as companies. 

This is the first such list published in compliance with the policy published by Customs on October 16. As per the list, the highest amount is owed to Customs by Sultans of the Sea. This company owes over MVR 110 million in import duties and fines. The payments were mandated by court after the company was found to have intentionally misrepresented the value of two speedboats it imported twelve years ago. 

The second highest amount is owed by a person fined for bringing in vapes into the country, identified as Ashraf Waheed, Maafinivaage, Male'. He was fined over MVR 72 million. 

Third on the list is another individual also fined for contravening the Tobacco Control Act, owing over MVR 48 million. 

According to the policy issued by Customs, names will be made public only in the outstanding amount exceeds MVR 10,000. The policy also outlines that multiple recovery steps will be undertaken before public disclosure. 

Most of the names listed are persons fined by breaching the Tobacco Control Act. 

Customs will be publishing the names of defaulters every two months.