Maldives customs service on Thursday denied allegations of politically motivated targeting of jailed opposition leader Gasim Ibrahim after raiding several resorts several resorts operated under the Villa Group which is owned by the business tycoon.
Police spokesperson said the police were assisting a customs operation adding that the search was being carried out under a warrant.
AVAS was able to confirm that the authorities had searched Royal Island resort, Fun Island, Paradise Island resort, Holiday Island resort and Sun Island resort, all operated under Villa Hotels and Resorts.
Police and customs teams had raided the five resorts simultaneously. A company official said the teams were looking into how alcohol and pork were being used in the resorts.
Gaisar Naseem who leads the management of the Villa resorts told AVAS that the teams were indeed looking into alcohol and pork stocks at the five resorts.
"We're cooperating with them. But this is certainly very unusual," Gaisar said.
Gaisar said tourists and employees were anxious and scared by the raids.
"We believe that this is politically motivated. Otherwise we won't see an operation of this scale. This will certainly affect our tourism. Once this gets out, we will see a negative impact on our industry. The five resorts are in a state of shock and fear. All we can do is cooperate with the authorities. But this is certainly politically motivated," Gaisar had lamented.
However, a customs official told AVAS on Thursday that the "routine" operation was conducted based on a tip-off that an alcohol shipment had been diverted from its intended destination.
"Our operation is not designed to target an individual. We are looking into some information we received. Once we're done with the search we will reveal how many resorts we raided and what exactly we found," the official explained.
According to the official, customs with the assistance of the police would continue the operation on Thursday where more resorts would be searched.
However, the official refused to name the resorts.
Gasim was convicted of bribery in August last year months after he inked a landmark pact with former presidents Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Mohamed Nasheed and religiously conservative Adhaalath Party (AP) leader Sheikh Imran Abdulla to work against the government.
The business tycoon was granted medical leave to travel to Singapore where he had undergone a minor heart surgery in September before travelling to Germany.
Despite his leave expiring in late September, the former lawmaker had not returned claiming that no airline would allow him on board an air craft due to his ailing condition.
Gaisar assured that all of Villa resorts were operated in accordance with the laws and regulations. The resorts have taken the necessary permits and licenses to handle alcohol and pork which were always handled with transparency and within the required procedure.
"Our chairman Gasim would never condone or tolerate anything illegal," Gaisar stressed.
