Growing unease is spreading among business people in the Maldives as fears mount that they may soon be forced to purchase their own containers or pay hefty fees to continue importing goods. The concern comes in the wake of a major theft at the Maldives Ports Limited (MPL), where 13.6 million cigarettes were stolen from containers held in state custody.

Speaking on RaajjeTV’s ‘TV Talk’ programme, former MP for Makunudhoo constituency Mohamed Raaee stated that the incident has shaken confidence in the security and reliability of Maldivian ports, warning that international shipping companies may begin refusing to send containers to the country.

Raaee stated that such a scenario unfolds, importers could be left with little choice but to bear the cost of providing their own containers or paying inflated fees imposed by shipping lines, burdens that would ultimately translate into higher consumer prices.

Further speaking, Raaee said that the core of the concern is the broader issue of systemic lapses and port security, now spotlighted by the cigarette smuggling case.

He said that the disappearance of goods already seized by Customs and held within a secure facility raises serious questions about the integrity of port operations and the enforcement of regulatory controls.

The business community's alarm is not limited to the logistics impact alone. There is growing frustration over what many view as an attempt by the government to deflect attention from the scale and seriousness of the smuggling operation. The case, which has resulted in arrests and high-profile suspensions, is increasingly being linked to more powerful and possibly protected interests, an implication that fuels further distrust.

With confidence in the port system eroding and fears of escalating costs looming, many in the private sector are calling for accountability and structural reforms before the country’s import-reliant economy faces broader disruptions.