Customs deputy commissioners fired in cigarette smuggling cases

Two deputy commissioners of customs were dismissed on Wednesday, following parliamentary inquiries into two cases involving the illicit tobacco trade.

While Customs has yet to disclose the identities of the deputy commissioners in question through official channels, credible sources confirmed their identities as Abdulla Waheed and Mahmood Riyaz, both of whom have worked at Customs for over 32 years.

Mahmood Riyaz was appointed as a deputy commissioner in 2020, while Abdulla Waheed received his promotion in 2024.

The dismissal of two deputy commissioners of customs was announced by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu in a post on X on Wednesday morning.

According to him, the decision was made based on the recommendations of the Parliament’s Security Services Committee, which had conducted inquiries into a case involving the smuggling of 200 master cartons of Manchester brand cigarettes on board one of The Hawks’ ships, and one involving the illegal removal of hundreds of cases of cigarettes from a bonded warehouse.

President Muizzu said that he has also instructed Customs to investigate and take action against three more Customs officials.

He did not name any of the officials in question.

ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ ސަލާމަތީ ޚިދުމަތްތަކާބެހޭ ކޮމިޓީން (241 ކޮމިޓީ އިން) ދިރާސާކުރައްވާފައިވާ "ދަ ހޯކްސް ޕްރައިވެޓް ލިމިޓެޑް" ގެ ތެޔޮ ބޯޓެއްގައި ޤާނޫނާއި ގަވާއިދާ ޚިލާފަށް ދިވެހިރާއްޖެއަށް ސިނގިރޭޓް ކާޓޫނުތަކެއް އެތެރެކޮށްފައިވާ މައްސަލައާއި، ބޮންޑެޑް ވެއަރހައުސްއެއްގައި ހުރި…

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) October 29, 2025

The illegal shipment of 200 master cartons of Manchester cigarettes – a cheaper brand that has become more popular following the doubling of import duty on tobacco - was found on The Hawks’ oil tanker Javaahiru during a raid by Maldives Customs on the company’s boatyard in K. Thilafushi on October 25, 2024.

In May, the Prosecutor General’s Office filed charges against three individuals and signed plea deals with 12 others.

But it decided against pressing charges against the company itself citing lack of evidence.

The Hawks denies any involvement in the case, claiming the crime was committed by a group of the company’s employees who conspired with foreign individuals.

While President Muizzu did not specify the second case, the authorities had announced investigations into the illegal removal of 955 cases of tobacco products including cigarettes and pipe tobacco from two bonded warehouses back in February.

The two bonded warehouses belonged to SGM and Exotic Enterprises – the latter of which, Hithaadhoo MP Mohamed Siruhaan, a lawmaker from the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), had owned shares in.

Customs said back in February that 575 cases of cigarettes were illegally removed from the Exotic Enterprises Bonded Warehouse; 165 cases of Camel Yellow, 110 cases of American Legend, and 300 cases of Manchester Royal Red.

According to Customs, the state should have received over MVR 67.9 million in duties for the goods, including MVR 47.2 million from Exotic Enterprises alone.

Siruhan, whose link to Exotic Enterprises became public after the Parliament publicized the findings of the committee inquiry earlier this week, denies any involvement in the case.