Maldives Customs Intercept Cigarette Shipment Disguised as Tissue Paper

The Maldives Customs Service seized a large shipment of cigarettes that had been declared as tissue paper. On 19 May, following intelligence, customs officials inspected a shipment declared as 343 cartons of tissue paper but found 143 cartons of tissue paper and 200 master cartons containing over 3.1 million cigarettes. The cigarettes have been confiscated and an investigation is underway. Cigarettes are heavily taxed in the Maldives, with a levy of MVR 3 per cigarette and an ad valorem rate of 25 percent on the price.

The Maldives Customs Service seized a large shipment of cigarettes that had been declared as tissue paper. On 19 May, following intelligence, customs officials inspected a shipment declared as 343 cartons of tissue paper but found 143 cartons of tissue paper and 200 master cartons containing over 3.1 million cigarettes. The cigarettes have been confiscated and an investigation is underway. Cigarettes are heavily taxed in the Maldives, with a levy of MVR 3 per cigarette and an ad valorem rate of 25 percent on the price.

The Maldives Customs Service seized a large shipment of cigarettes that had been declared as tissue paper. On 19 May, following intelligence, customs officials inspected a shipment declared as 343 cartons of tissue paper but found 143 cartons of tissue paper and 200 master cartons containing over 3.1 million cigarettes. The cigarettes have been confiscated and an investigation is underway. Cigarettes are heavily taxed in the Maldives, with a levy of MVR 3 per cigarette and an ad valorem rate of 25 percent on the price.

This story involves 1 source and may affect public understanding of customs / cigarette smuggling.