Maldives customs service on Sunday urged against berating police over the raids conducted in several resorts operated by the Villa Group owned by opposition Jumhoory Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim.
Customs along with the police had days earlier searched five resorts operated under the Villa Group umbrella later claiming that the four of the five resorts had an illegally acquired stock of pork and alcohol.
Police have come under heavy criticism over the raids which have been labelled as politically motivated 'targeting' of a key opposition leader.
Customs in a statement late Saturday however, denied the allegations insisting that police were merely assisting the operation.
"Customs service has the legal authority to seek the assistance of the security forces in carrying out such operations," the statement read.
"So we urge against spreading false claims that could tarnish the image and create hatred for the Maldives Police Service."
Customs meanwhile had seized and taken away the alcohol stock in Fun Island Resort late Saturday.
According to the authorities, the country's inland revenue authority had temporarily revoked the alcohol license of the four resorts over failure to pay taxes. However, the Villa Group had illegally diverted pork and alcohol from its sole license in one of the resorts to the rest.
The Villa Group remain adamant that it had not done anything illegal although the law clearly stipulates otherwise.
The opposition had called for protests claiming that the raids were politically motivated 'targeting' of a key opposition figure.
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.
The tourism industry meanwhile, has expressed deep concern over the raids warning the government the adverse effects on its economy.
