Senior Customs officer resigns

A senior officer of Special Operations and Surveillance (SOS) of Maldives Customs, Ahmed Nasheed has revealed that his resignation from the position was due to disagreements between himself and the top executive of Maldives Customs, Minister of State, and Principal Collector of Customs Ibrahim Rashaad. Nasheed made the statement to Miadhu speaking to Miadhu yesterday.

Nasheed confirmed to Miadhu that he did submit his resignations and that when Miadhu contacted him yesterday around 1030 in the morning he did not receive any response, however he confirmed that he received a reply at around 1700 hours yesterday.

In an interview granted to Miadhu yesterday morning Nasheed said that his resignation was due to lack of appreciation to his work and more specifically disagreements between himself and Minister Rashaad arose when he was transferred from Airport to Male’ as ordinary officer of the SOS.

When Miadhu contacted Minister of State Rashaad on the matter, Minister told Miadhu that he can only respond to written questions. Upon receiving the written questions from Miadhu he replied that Superintendent Nasheed submitted his resignation on the 6 of this month and that reason for his resignation as stated in the written response received from the Minister Rashaad was dissatisfaction by Nasheed on the way his work was being appreciated.

Minister Rashaad clarified that the position of a Superintendent of Customs was position at the level of Assistant Director and as such under the regulations governing government employees; Nasheed’s resignation letter has to be submitted to the Public service Division of the President’s Office. The written response also noted that Superintendent Nasheed was transferred from Passenger Processing Unit of Male’ International Airport to Special Operations and Surveillance (SOS) and when he resigned he was a senior officer of the SOS.

To the question of Nasheed’s performance in discharging his duties, Minister responded by writing that Nasheed attendance and his performance was monitored and that Nasheed played a key role in the efforts of the customs to prevent illegal import of drugs.

Minister Rashaad also noted that Customs did not instruct him to resign. According to sources many of the seizures of drugs made by customs during 2005 to 2006 was done by Nasheed and includes arresting a person who had swollen large amounts drugs and a large amounts drugs on a boat. Although not confirmed by Nasheed it was rumored that he was being planned to be sent to Trivandrum by Narcotics.