Ameen Faisal: Government Decisions Driving Shift to Counterfeit Cigarettes

Member of Parliament for the Kanditheemu constituency, Ameen Faisal, has stated that many Maldivian citizens and youth have been forced to turn to counterfeit cigarettes and bidis due to the "fake" decisions made by this "fake" administration.

During Wednesday's Parliament sitting, debate continued on the government-proposed amendment to the Export-Import Act, which seeks to reduce the duty on cigarettes and tobacco products by 50 percent. While debating the bill, the member noted that the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had consistently cautioned against such abrupt measures. He emphasized that the government should not have rushed into this decision solely with the expectation of generating an additional one billion Rufiyaa for the state budget.

Ameen stated that parliamentary records clearly illustrate the discussions held within the committee, the initial stance of PNC members, and how the committee’s finalized decision was ultimately overturned on the Majlis floor. The member further noted that during the committee debates, MDP members and the then-Deputy Speaker, Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim, were in favor of a progressive approach, advocating for incremental increases until the desired objective was achieved.

Another influential figure within the PNC disregarded that decision and moved forward with this action, leading us to the current situation. As a result of the policy maintained until today, numerous Maldivian youths have been burdened with fines and various other penalties. Furthermore, the state has lost billions in potential revenue. According to Customs data—not our own figures, but official Customs statistics—95 percent of the projected revenue from this sector has been lost.

Member of Parliament for the Kanditheemu constituency, Ameen Faisal.

The member stated that this has resulted in Maldivian youth turning to counterfeit products. He further noted that despite the ban on vaping, these products remain accessible and continue to be used.

Furthermore, Ameen noted that market prices have improved compared to previous levels, leading to significantly higher profits for those engaged in the trade. However, the member highlighted that none of these funds are entering the formal system, resulting in the state being deprived of its rightful revenue.

Highlighting that cigarettes have faced a similar situation, Ameen noted that billions of rufiyaa in taxes and other owed revenues remain uncollected. He further stated that despite this, various types of cigarettes—many of which are of lower quality and pose greater health risks than those previously available in the Maldivian market—continue to be accessible through various channels.

The member stated that the state does not receive any revenue, taxes, or import duties from these products. He further asserted that Maldivians have been forced to turn to counterfeit cigarettes and bidis due to the "fake" decisions made by this "fake" administration.