The owner of a bonded warehouse in Malé City, where a large stock of cigarettes was stored, has been fined MVR 40 million after the tobacco products went missing. Homeland Security and Technology Minister Ali Ihusan announced the penalty today, stating that the amount includes customs duties and penalties.

“The owner was penalized for violating regulations prohibiting the removal of goods from a bonded warehouse without notifying Customs,” Ihusan explained.

Bonded warehouses within private houses typically have two locks, with one key held by Maldives Customs Service and the other by the warehouse operator. Minister Ihusan confirmed that police are investigating how the warehouse was accessed without Customs’ knowledge.

“The facility should only be opened with representatives from both parties present. Police are looking into how this policy was breached,” he added.

In response to the incident, Customs has prohibited the operation of bonded warehouses in private homes and ordered the closure of all such existing facilities.

Minister Ihusan emphasized that going forward, bonded warehouses will only be allowed in areas under the full control of Customs to prevent similar breaches.