Measures being taken to stop alcohol from safaris being taken on islands

Relevant authorities have commenced efforts to bring a halt to the practice of illegal sale of alcohol released under special permits to safari boats in islands near where they are moored.

In a press conference held by the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology, Commissioner General of Customs Fathimath Dhiyana said that inspections are now being done to ensure safaris to which alcohol permits are granted are acting within the regulations. Customs are now visiting safari boats to conduct these inspections.

During these inspections, six safari boats have so far been identified as acting against regulations, and have been duly fined. These cases are also under further investigation.

The fines were charged for the safari boats being moored in areas other than they were registered to, switching off the customs-issued tracking devices, and for allowing persons onboard against the set regulations.

Speaking at the press conference, Ali Ihusan said that while alcohol from customs warehouse is released to safari boats for sale under tourism activities, information has been received that alcohol is often restocked even in the absence of guests onboard.

"Based on statistics, the operation Customs is running now is, when a safari comes to receive alcohol from Customs, they check how many guests have stayed on the vessel. We will look into that as well. And whether in that period, it is the permitted number of guests on that vessel that are consuming this alcohol, that too will statistically check through setting boundaries. If this is being done outside of that, we will no longer issue alcohol to such vessels," the Minister explained.

Ihusan said that if the permits issued to safaris are being misused to sell alcohol on islands, then the practice will need to be stopped.

"We will no longer allow for this to be done in the Maldives. And we will take the strictest legal action possible against those who have been doing so," he said.

Ihusan said that after alcohol is taken from customs, some safari boats unload them at inhabited islands through various avenues, and sell them on to individuals, including locals.

"We have evidence that this is being done in this manner. This will be stopped by Customs, in collaboration with Police," Ihusan said.