Hawks smuggling issue: allegations raised against State officials

Parliament's Committee on National Security Services (241 Committee) has raised concerns about the delay in taking action in the case where a large amount of cigarettes were being smuggled into Maldives.

The case of 8,400 cigarette cartons (84,000 cigarette packs) being smuggled into Maldives on a Hawks Company fuel carrier and being unloaded at the company boatyard in Thilafushi came to light in October last year.

Hawks Company responded at the time that the company has no involvement in the incident. They further said that employees found to be involved in the smuggling were relieved of their jobs.

In today's meeting of the 241 Committee, MPs raised concerns about the matter still not being sent to court despite two months having passed since a request was made at the Prosecutor General's Office to press smuggling charges against Hawks. In addition to this, although Police have said that money laundering charges against the company are being investigated, no progress is seen, they said.

Members shared some of the points in the report compiled on the case of smuggling cigarettes. Some of these points are:

- A Customs official said they’ve been hearing for about two years that Hawks smuggles goods along with fuel shipments.

- According to a Customs official, inadequate monitoring makes it possible for vessels entering the Maldives to bring in items, including weapons, from any source undetected.

- The Hawks vessel had entered Maldives territory, switched off their system, and were found smuggling in cigarette cartons 24 hours later.

- Customs officers' statements imply that Customs does not have the capacity to fulfil its legal responsibilities. Customs had not had a speedboat to go to the Hawks boat, and had failed to secure one even through requests to Police.

- The first timeline shared by Customs was erroneous. Once this was brought to the attention of the Commissioner General of Customs by the committee, it was revised correctly and reshared.

Speaking at the committee, MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa (Hanimadhoo) said that when the committee had started to look into the Hawks case, then Deputy Commissioner, current Commissioner, of Police Ismail Naveen had gone to the residence of Hawks' shareholders. Ghafoor stated that there are photos to prove this.

"This should not have happened. How can you justify people in such positions going to residences of persons involved in serious cases that we are looking into?"

Committee members called for action to be taken against Hawks.

North Maafannu MP Mohamed Nazim (Colonel Nazim) appealed for the case to be expedited.

Ruling People's National Congress MP Mohamed Ismail (Vilin'gili) called for the Prosecutor General to be summoned and questioned why the smuggling case is not proceeding.

"Transport Minister went to the Hawks site in Thilafushi with ministry officials. We have photos and videos of this. Cases are not proceeding because there is money and corruption involved. Why is the Prosecutor General also not looking into this case despite there being so much evidence?"