Two Deputy Commissioners of the Maldives Customs Service have been dismissed over their involvement in two major tobacco-related corruption cases.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced the dismissal of Deputy Commissioner Mahmoodh Riyaaz and Deputy Commissioner Abdulla Waheed on Wednesday, following recommendations from the Parliament’s Security Services Committee (241 Committee).

The cases involve the smuggling of 200 master cartons of Manchester cigarettes on an oil tanker owned by The Hawks Private Limited, and the illegal removal of hundreds of tobacco cases from bonded warehouses without Customs’ knowledge.

The smuggling case was uncovered on October 25, 2024, when Customs raided The Hawks’ boatyard in Thilafushi. In May, prosecutors charged three individuals and signed plea deals with 12 others, though the company itself was not charged due to lack of evidence.

The second case concerns the illegal removal of 955 cases of cigarettes and pipe tobacco from two bonded warehouses belonging to SGM and Exotic Enterprises, causing the state a loss of over MVR 67.9 million in unpaid duties. Exotic Enterprises was partly owned by Hithaadhoo MP Mohamed Siruhaan, who denies involvement.

President Muizzu also instructed Customs to take action against three more officials. The dismissals come amid the government’s wider anti-corruption drive and recent tax hikes aimed at curbing tobacco use in the Maldives.