Police Seize 150 Vapes in Raids on Malé City Homes and Vehicles

Police in Malé City have seized approximately 150 vapes and vape cartridges during raids on two homes and two vehicles, following a tip-off. The operations, conducted on Friday, resulted in the recovery of 89 vape cartridges from under the seat of a motorcycle and 59 from an apartment. One individual has been fined in connection with the case, though no arrests have been made so far. The Facebook page selling the banned devices has been taken into police custody, and investigations are ongoing. This crackdown is part of the government's enforcement of the amended Tobacco Control Act, which prohibits the import, sale, distribution, and possession of vaping devices and accessories. Violators face fines ranging from MVR 5,000 for using a vape to MVR 50,000 for selling to minors. In October alone, 35 people were fined a total of MVR 226,000 for vaping and tobacco-related violations.