An additional 6,300 vape cartridges were seized yesterday while attempting to be imported into Maldives, bringing the number of items seized over the past week or so to over 23,000.
Customs stated today that a special operation was conducted yesterday as well at the Male' Commercial Harbor, following suspicions that illegal goods might be present in a cargo shipment brought to the Maldives by sea.
Customs noted that during the operation, an inspection of a shipment declared as "general cargo" revealed 6,328 vape cartridges hidden inside, and those items have now been taken into the institution's custody.
However, Customs did not state which country the goods were brought from or who was attempting to import them. No further details have been provided yet, except for stating that the case is being investigated.
Over the past week or so, Customs has seized a large number of vape cartridges and devices that were being imported into the Maldives by sea.
On Monday of last week, 1,108 vape cartridges and 27 devices hidden inside potato chips cans and chocolate powder packets in a cargo shipment brought by sea were seized.
In an operation conducted by Customs last Wednesday, 5,600 vape cartridges were seized, and in an operation conducted last Thursday, 15,600 vape cartridges were seized through the inspection of various cargo shipments.
With that, the number of vape cartridges seized over the past week or so has risen to a total of 23,008. The fine amount for these items is expected to exceed MVR 230 million.
Under the Tobacco Control Act, the import and use of vapes in the Maldives was banned on December 15, 2024. It was also determined that 21 years is the minimum age at which tobacco can be bought and sold in the Maldives. Since then, attempts to illegally import vapes into the Maldives have been intercepted on multiple occasions.
If devices used for vaping and products prepared for that purpose are imported into the Maldives, a fine of MVR 50,000 will be imposed, along with a fine at the rate of MVR 10,000 for each electronic cigarette or vape imported.
