Maldives recorded a huge surge in cigarettes and energy drinks imports in the past two years, customs statistics have shown.
According to the statistics, the 498 million cigarettes imported to the Maldives last year, was a staggering 38 million and eight percent more than the total imported in 2015.
Other tobacco products excluding cigarettes registered a 32 percent increase worth MVR7.7 million last year which is nearly MVR2 million more than 2015.
But energy drinks recorded the highest surge with an 85.3 percent increase last year over 2015. The statistics show that Maldives imported five million liters of energy drinks in 2015, but its nearly doubled last year to nine million liters.
The authorities meanwhile have launched a joint effort to increase the excise duty on energy and fizzy drinks.
The government has recently banned the sale of energy drinks at medical facilities, the state hospital and schools.
Chief government lawmaker Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik said the first act of the Parliament after it reconvenes would be to increase the tax on cigarettes.
