Embattled Villa Group are struggling with increasing tourist complaints after the Maldives Customs Service continues to refuse alcohol to five of its resorts.
Customs along with the police had raided five resorts of the group owned opposition Jumhoory Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim last week, which included Fun Island Resort, Sun Island Resort, Paradise Island Resort, Holiday Island Resort and Royal Island Resort.
Authorities later claimed that four of the five resorts searched under the operation had an illegally acquired stock of pork and alcohol.
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 Royal Island Resort to its sister properties.
Government had later suspended the liquor license issued to Royal Island Resort for a period of six months citing "multiple violations."
Tourism ministry however had decided to grant a 14 day temporary license to the Villa Group which it said was taken after discussions with stakeholders of the tourism industry.
However, customs has refused to release the alcohol despite the temporary license and the Villa Group on Thursday said its resorts are now almost out of alcohol.
A Villa Group official told AVAS that tourists at Fun Island Resort have threatened to go to the media once they go back as the resort has been unable to serve any alcohol after the customs seized its entire liquor stock.
"Tourist are complaining. They've asked if this is how the service is in Maldives. Some of them have threatened to go to the media once they go back to their countries. They've even criticized the government. We haven't been able to serve any alcohol in Fun Island," the official bemoaned.
Official said the stock in Paradise Island Resort and Sun Island Resort would only be enough to last until Friday. If customs does not release alcohol to the resorts by then, the financial losses for the company would be disastrous, the official added.
Maldives customs service meanwhile has downplayed concerns over the adverse effects on the country's fragile tourism industry over the crackdown.
The tourism industry meanwhile, has expressed deep concern over the raids warning the government the adverse effects on the archipelago's economy.
Customs however, in a statement late Sunday denied using force in the operation insisting that it had only searched the storage areas in the resorts, away from the common tourist areas and rooms. The statement also said it had carried out the operation within its legal mandate and urged against "politically motivated" attempts to destroy the image of the institution.
"Customs did not in any way use force in the operations. We had also seized items that are suspected of being brought in illegally to the resort," the statement read.
The Villa Group remains adamant that it had not done anything illegal.
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.
