The Maldivian government is reviewing allegations that companies may have used the country to facilitate trade involving restricted goods linked to Russia, following a report by The Wall Street Journal.

Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) said authorities began assessing the claims with relevant lead agencies, including the President’s Office, soon after the allegations emerged.

The government is also coordinating with security agencies, which are sharing information as part of the verification process.

The Wall Street Journal reported that a network of companies had allegedly used the Maldives in efforts to evade international sanctions imposed on Russia.  

According to the report, hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of restricted goods, including items potentially intended for sanctioned entities, had reportedly moved through the country’s airport cargo operations.

The report said the alleged shipments included aircraft components, electronic equipment, and other restricted products that may have both civilian and military applications.

Mundhu said the government had not received pressure from United States or European Union officials regarding the allegations, rejecting claims in the report that Western governments had pressured the Maldives to take action.

He said the article concerned Russia and China, two of the Maldives’ most important tourism markets, and noted that the government had discussed the matter with Customs authorities to determine whether existing systems could identify restricted or dual-use goods.

According to Mundhu, the most recent instance in which a similar item was flagged by Customs was in 2022.

He said the government is assessing whether Customs has the technical capacity to identify highly specialized items, including electronic components such as microchips.

The government is considering further improvements to Customs detection capabilities, including through upgraded systems and additional scanners.

Authorities are also examining how they can work with Western security agencies to identify restricted goods and strengthen monitoring procedures.

Mundhu said Maldives has continued to comply with international efforts to combat money laundering, terrorism financing, and related illicit activity regardless of the administration in office.

The government’s immediate priority, he said, is to establish whether the allegations are accurate, assess the country’s ability to detect such cargo, and address any shortcomings identified during the review.