The Maldivian government has enacted new regulations empowering the police to confiscate and dispose of vaping devices and e-cigarettes, reinforcing the country’s ban on vaping which came into effect on December 15, 2024.

The General Regulation on Tobacco Control, published in the Government Gazette on Wednesday afternoon, grants law enforcement the authority to seize vaping devices found in people's possession even if they are not actively using them.

Strict Penalties for Violations

Under the new regulations:

• Individuals found possessing vaping devices will face an MVR 2,000 fine.
• Refusal to comply with police orders will result in an MVR 50,000 fine.
• If the violator is a business entity, they will be fined MVR 100,000 and may lose their business license.
• Confiscated vaping devices will be disposed of with environmental safety measures in place.

Enforcement Measures and Fines Imposed

Maldives Police Service reports that by the end of January 2025, authorities had imposed MVR 130,500 in fines on 23 individuals for 28 violations of the vaping ban.

The government’s zero-tolerance stance on vaping aligns with its broader efforts to promote public health and tobacco control across the country.