Maldives Customs has confirmed the seizure of nearly 1.8 million cigarette sticks from a shipment at the Hithadhoo Commercial Port in Addu City today.

According to Customs, the contraband was discovered during an inspection of a shipment smuggled into the Maldives by sea. The haul is valued at approximately MVR 15 million and amounts to 92,000 boxes of cigarettes.

No further details have been disclosed, as the case remains under investigation. The identities of those involved and the origin of the shipment are yet to be revealed.

The bust comes amid a broader trend of declining legal cigarette imports following increased government duties on tobacco products. Data obtained by Mihaaru News last month showed that 42.3 million cigarettes were imported between January and July 2025.

In contrast, 356.7 million cigarettes were imported in 2022, valued at MVR 251.8 million, and 350 million in 2023, worth MVR 265.9 million. The steep decline is believed to be linked to a rise in smuggling activities.