President Abdulla Yameen will not win this year’s presidential election by raiding resorts owned by opposition Jumhoree Party (JP) leader Qasim Ibrahim, says former President Mohamed Nasheed.

State authorities in the past few days have been searching five resorts of Qasim’s Villa Group to confiscate “illegally obtained” liquor.

In a statement, Nasheed has said that the searches being conducted by police and Customs officials will damage the Maldives tourism industry.

Nasheed said President Yameen does not have the public support to win the election, and so he is using whatever means necessary to unlawfully get a second term.

He also claimed that radicalized groups have been influencing the government and police service.

Villa’s lawyers have denied allegations that the resorts received liquor from the Customs bonded warehouse meant for Royal Island Resort.

Liquor and pork licenses were revoked from four of Qasim’s resorts in March 22 last year following a dispute with Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA). They are Sun Island Resort, Paradise Island Resort, Fun Island Resort, and Holiday Island Resort.