Two Deputy Commissioners of Customs, Abdullah Waheed and Mahmood Riyaz, were sacked today following parliament recommendation to President Mohamed Muizzu over the removal of cigarette cartons from a bonded warehouse.
Adhadhu understands that they were dismissed without an investigation and without giving them an opportunity to respond to the allegations. They had been employed at Customs for the last 35 years.
In a post on X, Muizzu said two deputy commissioners will be dismissed, while three other Customs employees will also face necessary action in accordance with the rules and regulations.
However, no government agency has so far disclosed the details of the dismissed officials and the action taken against the other three officials. Their identities have also been kept secret.
The Deputy Commissioners of Customs are appointed by the President. The President also has the power to dismiss them.
Sources with information on the matter told Adhadhu that the two employees who were fired had not been questioned by an investigative agency.
The cigarette cartons connected to the case were illegally smuggled into the country on an oil tanker belonging to The Hawks company.
They were seized by Customs and kept in a bonded warehouse. However, the cigarettes were secretly removed from the warehouse.
Customs seized 8,475 cigarette cartons (84,000 cigarette packs or 1.695 million cigarette sticks). They were seized in October 2024.
The government increased the tax on tobacco and cigarettes from November 1, 2024. The tax was increased from MVR 3 per cigarette to MVR 8. The tax on other tobacco products has been increased by 50 percent.
Following tax hike, counterfeit cigarettes have flooded the market, forming a large-scale black market among smokers. Various brands of cigarettes are now available at much cheaper rates.
