Over one million cigarettes under the custody of Maldives Customs Service have been destroyed.

These items were destroyed on April 24, in Dhoonidhoo island of Kaafu atoll.

Customs stated that the confiscated cigarettes were being smuggling into the country illegally. Destroyed were 1,359,180 cigarette sticks.

Recently, a large number of cigarettes that were being smuggled into the country illegally were seized on April 19. Customs said this amounted to 130,155 cigarette sticks.

These items were seized at Gan International Airport.

With the changes brought to the Tobacco Control Act by the current administration of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, the amount of tobacco products being secretly imported into the country has increased. Customs has also recently seized vapes and their accessories that were being imported into the country on multiple occasions.

Customs continues to destroy items such as cigarettes, alcohol, and narcotics that are illegally imported into the country.