No evidence against Hawks; charges pressed against three individuals

Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) states charges were pressed against three individuals in connection with the smuggling of 200 cartons of cigarettes on a vessel belonging to The Hawks, one of the country’s top importers and distributors of fuel, adding charges were not pursued against the company due to lack of evidence.

Parliament’s Committee on National Security Services (241 Committee) has raised concern over delays in pressing charges against Hawks in connection to the case.

According to PGO, Hawks alongside 17 people were implicated in the case. Out of the suspects, 11 Indian nationals and two Bangladeshis admitted to their guilt and requested to enter into counsel agreements. As such, the Office decided against prosecution and entered into counsel agreements with the individuals on May 4^th.

Meanwhile, charges were pressed against three individuals in connection with the case on May 8^th. All three were charged with smuggling goods into the Maldives. They are:

• Adam Rameez
• Mohamed Naseer
• Mohamed Didi

“As there is not enough evidence to pursue charges against The Hawks and Ismail Adam implicated in the matter, their cases have been sent back to Maldives Customs Service,” PGO added.

However, PGO underscored that the time limit to pursue charges against the company has yet to expire; therefore, if new evidence emerges, charges could still be brought.

The shipment of 200 master cartons of Manchester cigarettes had been discovered in one of Hawks’ ships during a raid by Maldives Customs on the company’s boatyard in K. Thilafushi on October 25, 2024.

The case is still under investigation by Maldives Police Service. Parliament’s 241 Committee is probing delays in action against The Hawks in connection with the case. The Committee has also alleged that incumbent Commissioner of Police Ismail Naveen met visited the home of shareholders of the company amid the investigation into the case.

In a statement in October, Hawks said it has suspended the employees found to have been involved in smuggling the cigarette cartons, without specifying a number. It also insisted that the company had zero involvement in the smuggling racket, and was cooperating fully with the authorities.

The Hawks is one of the country’s biggest importers and distributors of fuel. In its statement, the company said it is not involved in and nor does it have any interest in engaging in the tobacco business.

Maldives has recently seen an increase in smuggling cigarettes which is attributed to the government doubling the duty levied on cigarettes as part of its anti-tobacco efforts.