The government has stated that it is investigating reports by 'The Wall Street Journal' claiming that the Maldives is being used as a key route to "evade" international sanctions imposed against Russia.

According to the report by the Wall Street Journal, items that cannot be imported to Russia due to international sanctions are being transported to that country via the Maldives' main airport, Velana International Airport. Prior to this report by the newspaper, some foreign media outlets had also reported this matter in 2023.

Goods imported to the Maldives from the United States, Europe, and China are cleared through Maldivian companies and then sent to Moscow, the capital of Russia, on flights operated by Russia's national airline, Aeroflot.

When reissuing documentation in this manner, information regarding the original seller of the goods is removed, and the report alleges that Customs sends them off after performing only a casual check.

When questioned regarding these allegations at yesterday's press briefing, the Spokesperson at the President's Office, Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu), stated that upon seeing the report published in the Wall Street Journal, the Maldivian government, through relevant authorities, began working to verify the truth of the matter.

However, he stated that if such a thing is happening in the Maldives, action must be taken, but added that it is questionable whether the capability exists to identify (whether or not the items sent to Russia from the Maldives include types banned under sanctions).

"The question now arising is whether we actually have the capacity to detect something at the level they are talking about, you know what I mean? For instance, how would we know what kind of chip is inside this phone?" Hussain Shareef said.

According to the Wall Street Journal report, the European Union (EU) and the United States are exerting pressure on the Maldivian government because items banned from import to Russia under sanctions are being transported to that country via the Maldives.

Hussain Shareef stated that this is false and that the Maldives is a nation that works very closely with international security agencies.

Items alleged to be sent to Russia through the Maldives:

According to Russian statistics, goods valued at less than USD 7 million were imported from the Maldives to Russia in 2021. However, in the following year, 2022, the value of goods imported from the Maldives to that country exceeded 630 million dollars.

Goods forwarded without being imported into the Maldives

The Wall Street Journal reported that goods brought from the United States, Europe, and China are unloaded at VIA and, without entering the Maldivian Customs area, are kept in the airport's transit area and loaded directly onto Russia's Aeroflot aircraft.

This is done by altering the air waybills of the goods through parties operating in the Maldives. In this manner, information about the original manufacturing company and country is removed, and documents are regenerated under the names of Russian importers.

The reports also allege that Customs physically inspects such transiting goods very minimally, relying solely on documentation.

According to the Wall Street Journal report, in its investigation, the newspaper obtained information regarding several companies registered in the Maldives that assist in sending goods to Russia.

One such company, according to the newspaper's report, is a firm named Freight Care. The report stated that the company's Managing Director, Hussain Waheed, said his company carries out the work of clearing goods sent to Russia via the Maldives.

However, the report also mentioned that he stated they have never knowingly assisted in sending materials used to manufacture weapons and that his company does not support any war.

According to the report, another such company is a firm named Go Investment. The report stated that a small electronics shop stands at the address where the company is registered, and that it is an address where numerous companies are registered.

The report stated that among the items sent from the Maldives to Russia through this network, in addition to general cargo, are dual-use goods that can be utilized for both civil and military purposes. One such item is microchips, which can be used for missile guidance systems as well as electronics.

According to the report, another such item is optical equipment, which can be used to manufacture equipment for monitoring activities via satellite.

While aircraft parts are included among the items taken from the Maldives to Russia, spare parts required for civil and military aircraft are also included among them, the report said.

The report also alleged that the activity of sending goods from Russia through the Maldives is conducted with the assistance of influential political figures.