Over 22,000 Vape Cartridges Seized in Five Days

Maldives Customs Service has seized 15,601 vape cartridges during a special operation conducted at Male’ Commercial Harbor.

Maldives Customs Service stated that the items were seized during a special operation conducted at the Male’ Commercial Harbor on June 18, following suspicions that a sea freight shipment contained illicit goods. According to Customs, a search of the shipment, which had been declared as general cargo, led to the discovery of a large quantity of concealed vapes.

Maldives Customs Service has announced the seizure of 15,601 vape cartridges, which are now in their custody. This marks the largest shipment of its kind intercepted by authorities since the government’s ban on the importation of vapes and electronic cigarettes took effect on November 15, 2024.

With these latest seizures, the total number of vape cartridges confiscated by Customs over the past five days has surpassed 22,000. During this period, Customs conducted three separate operations, resulting in the seizure of 22,309 vape cartridges. Authorities are currently conducting further investigations into these cases.

Following the 2024 amendment to the Tobacco Control Act, the importation, sale, and use of vaping products in the Maldives have been strictly prohibited effective from December of that year. The government implemented this measure to safeguard public health and to curb the rising prevalence of vaping among the youth.

However, following this government decision, many have alleged that an extensive black market network for vaping products has emerged.