Will the booze seized in Fuahmulah be destroyed or consumed?

Will the booze seized in Fuahmulah be destroyed or consumed?

According to local reports, police in Fuahmulah, in Gnaviyani Atoll, have confiscated 30 cases of beer and 60 liquor bottles which were transported to the island on board a local cargo vessel.

Acting on a tip-off from the public, police confiscated the alcohol stock whilst they were being off-loaded from MV Nirvana yesterday morning. The stock was loaded to the vessel as a property of Mohamed Musthafa, Beehanige, Fuahmulah, who is now under police custody reports say.

Import and sale of alcohol is strictly regulated under Maldives law and is only allowed in tourist resorts. However, there is absolutely no doubt that illegal distribution and sales of alcohol in the country is now at an all time high. According to many, it is quite easy to get your hands on a bottle or a case of beer in the black market.

Unlike confiscated drugs, which is allegedly destroyed by the police, this huge stock of alcohol (beer, Smirnoff Vodka and VAT 69), is unlikely to be destroyed, as many in the police and top government posts would want to consume this ‘tasty’ stock themselves.

In any case, at a time of economic downturn and shortfalls in the budget, it would not be a sensible thing to destroy this stock. The government could always sell it to a resort and use the money.

Like the Russians, top cronies of the regime, like Commissioner of Police Adam Zahir, likes Vodka on the rocks! Similarly, VAT 69 is a firm favourite of the old guard. And, of course, beer is like water to most Maldivians nowadays!