Nazim and Saleem visit MPL port to assess security and address issues

The Vice Speaker of the Parliament, Ahmed Nazim, and the Chair of the 241 Committee, Ahmed Saleem (Redwave), visited the Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) port today to assess its condition.

During the visit, both officials toured the Malé Commercial Harbor area. They also held discussions with MPL CEO Mohamed Rishwan and the company's management regarding MPL's operations. Rishwan shared details about the port's current condition and the challenges it faces.

Speaking to Mihaaru News about the visit, Nazim stated that they went to evaluate the port's condition and identify existing problems. He noted that given the issues recently emerging, many problems are apparent in the commercial port, making it crucial to understand the situation to resolve them.

"The purpose is truly for us to understand the actual situation. As parties shift blame onto each other, we are trying to understand the situation and find solutions," said Nazim, who is also a member of the 241 Committee.

Nazim highlighted that one of the objectives of the visit was to confirm the availability of space in the port for installing a container scanning system to scan imported containers, and to find a way to proceed with this work.

Customs has begun work on installing the scanner, and Finance Minister Moosa Zameer has assured the Budget Committee that the necessary financing will be secured. Both Customs and MPL have stated that establishing this system will resolve many of the current issues.

The 241 Committee recently investigated various issues related to Customs and compiled a report. That report highlighted that some security aspects of the ports were compromised due to Customs' operational procedures.

The Committee is currently investigating the issue where over 13.6 million cigarettes, which Customs had seized in April while being illegally imported, disappeared from where they were stored at the MPL port. The Committee is also working to identify the deficiencies in the port related to this incident.