53,300 vaping devices seized from Maldives’ borders in the one year since ban

Over 53,000 vaping devices have been intercepted from the Maldives’ borders in the one year since the country imposed a ban on vapes and e-cigarettes.

Maldives introduced amendments to the Tobacco Control Act in 2024, prohibiting the import of vaping devices and e-cigarettes in November, and expanding the restriction in December to cover the sale, free distribution, and use of such products.

Maldives Customs shared on Wednesday that the agency intercepted 176 cases involving the smuggling of vaping devices into the Maldives since November 15, 2024.

These interceptions led to the seizure of 53,300 vaping devices.

15 ނޮވެންބަރު 2024 އިން ފެށިގެން އިލެކްޓްރޯނިކް ސިނގިރެޓާއި ވޭޕްކުރުމަށް ބޭނުންކުރާ އާލާތްތައް ރާއްޖެއަށް އެތެރެކުރުން މަނާވުމާއި ގުޅިގެން ކަސްޓަމްސުން ވަނީ ވޭޕްކުރުމަށް ބޭނުންކުރާ އާލާތްތައް ރާއްޖެއަށް އެތެރެކުރަން އުޅުމުގެ 176 މައްސަލަ ހޯދާފައި. #Hafthaa104 pic.twitter.com/uX8DUOUZZg

— Maldives Customs Service (@CustomsMv) November 20, 2025

The legislative changes banning vapes introduced hefty fines for violations. This includes:

• MVR 5,000 for use of vapes
• MVR 20,000 for the sale of vape
• MVR 50,000 for the sale of vape to a minor
• MVR 10,000 per vaping device sold
• MVR 10,000 for free distribution of vapes

35 different people were fined MVR 226,000 in fines for violations in October alone.

The vape ban is part of larger tobacco control measures implemented by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration, which has also seen the doubling of import duty and taxes on cigarettes, and a smoking ban on the post-2007 generation.

The anti-smoking measures has earned Maldives global recognition. In May, President Muizzu received the World No-Tobacco Day Special Recognition Award from the World Health Organization (WHO), and on Wednesday, the Maldives received the Integrity Award from the Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC).

Despite the global recognition for the measures, the ban on vapes and the subsequent doubling of import duty on cigarettes has created an illegal market where vapes and cheaper brands of cigarettes are being smuggled in and sold in the Maldives. This has also resulted in the loss of millions of Rufiya in import revenue.