Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Nazim has expressed frustration over the delay in prosecuting Hawks Private Limited in a major smuggling and money laundering case.

Speaking at the 241 Parliamentary Committee meeting, Nazim noted that it has been two months since Maldives Customs requested the Prosecutor General’s Office to file charges against Hawks for smuggling stolen cigarettes. However, he said there is still no clarity on whether a chargesheet has been filed.

The case involves the disappearance of a large quantity of cigarettes from a bonded warehouse and the alleged movement of over MVR 400 million through the accounts of certain customs officials. The police were also tasked with investigating the money laundering aspect, but according to Nazim, the investigation has stalled.

Nazim attributed the delay to the presence of compromised individuals within state institutions. “There are people within who are eating green off the same tree,” he said, suggesting internal collusion among staff. He dismissed speculation that committee members were obstructing the case, stating firmly that they were not "sold for bribery."