Maldives probes claims of transit route for Russian military goods
He said that, if such goods had passed through the country, it would likely reflect limitations in detection capabilities at Velana International Airport.
The Maldivian government said on Saturday that it is investigating allegations that goods intended for Russian military use are being routed through the country to evade Western sanctions.
An investigation published by The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday alleged that electronics, microchips, satellite optical equipment and aircraft spare parts manufactured in Europe, the United States and China were being re-exported to Russia through the Maldives.
Addressing the allegations for the first time at a press conference on Saturday afternoon, government spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef said authorities were examining the claims.
He said that, if such goods had passed through the country, it would likely reflect limitations in detection capabilities at Velana International Airport.
“The primary question is whether VIA possesses the technical capacity to detect items at that specific level—for example, the ability to identify exact microchip types inside a mobile phone,” Shareef said.
Authorities were assessing the airport’s inspection capabilities, he said. The government would improve equipment and train personnel if the review identified gaps.
Shareef said the investigation was being conducted without external pressure. He added that security agencies across countries routinely exchanged intelligence and would issue alerts if breaches were identified.
According to The Wall Street Journal, many of the goods allegedly routed through the Maldives have both civilian and military applications. These include microchips and electronics used in Russian missile guidance systems, drones and military communications networks.
The newspaper alleged that agents in Malé worked with Russian logistics firms to change cargo documentation before shipments were loaded onto daily Aeroflot flights to Moscow.
Once goods entered the airport’s bonded cargo area, agents allegedly changed the “exporter of record”, issued new invoices and air waybills, and concealed the goods’ country of origin.
The report said transit cargo was generally processed using documentation, without boxes being unpacked for inspection, allowing the shipments to pass through Customs.
