Maldives Customs Service has suspended two of its officers in connection to a case regarding vehicle smuggling.

Customs Media Official revealed that both officers have been suspended until investigations into the case conclude.

Customs officials cracked down on the vehicle smuggling case on 24 August, when the importer claimed that wood was being imported in two containers which in fact was carrying cars and motorcycles. The operation was conducted in cooperation with the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and thus far, three cars, two pick-ups, two vans and 14 motorcycles have been taken under the custody of Customs.

The department has estimated the vehicles to carry a cost and freight price of MVR 586,000 and MVR 558,000 as import duty.

Commissioner General of Maldives Customs Service Ahmed Numan posted a tweet regarding the case, stating that investigations are ongoing in collaboration with their partner customs administrations.

While the Commissioner General has assured that there will not be any compromises in the investigation, he further said that any information linked to the case will not be concealed from the public.

Further, he stated that the public will be updated, “in due time” and disclosure of all the information attained is not in the interest of the matter at hand, no matter the extent of criticism.

In addition, he assured that customs will exhibit President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s government’s policy of zero tolerance to corruption.