Police seize 442 vape cartridges and cigarettes from two houses in Male' city; two people fined

Police seized 442 vape cartridges and two cartons of cigarettes during searches conducted in two houses in Male' City on Sunday.

The searches were carried out under a court order following a tip‑off, police said. Officers also recovered shisha puffs and other vape‑related items from the properties.

According to police, two individuals have been fined in connection with the incident, though no arrests have been made. The case remains under investigation.

The government raised import duties on cigarettes on November 1 last year, banned the import of vapes on November 15, and prohibited the possession and use of vapes on December 15. Since then, authorities have reported multiple cases of cigarette and vape smuggling.

Earlier this month, Customs seized the largest shipment of vapes since the ban, worth MVR 2.7 million, from a consignment brought in by sea. That case is also under investigation.

Vaping devices and related products are banned in the Maldives. Importing them carries a fine of MVR 50,000, while each individual e‑cigarette or vaping device imported can incur an additional fine of up to MVR 10,000.