The Maldives are suspected of having become a covert channel for sending hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Western goods to Russia, raising questions about how Moscow is circumventing the sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.
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According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the airport in the capital, Malé, is being used for the transit of electronic components, aircraft parts and other restricted products. This category also includes dual-use materials suitable for both civilian applications and the military sector.
Documents analyzed by the newspaper and conversations with Western officials point to the operation of a new trading network helping Russia obtain products that are difficult to import directly.
Although the volume of goods passing through the Maldives is far lower than the flows using major sanctions-evasion hubs such as China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, the case demonstrates the expansion of Russia’s network into countries that are not usually considered important trading points for Moscow.
How is the transport carried out?
According to reports, the cargo is transferred from one aircraft to another without officially entering Maldivian territory.
Every morning, an Aeroflot aircraft arrives in Malé. With the assistance of local actors and companies linked to Russian logistics, the goods are cleared on the basis of the submitted documents and then loaded directly onto another aircraft.
New shipping documentation is prepared for the onward flight to Moscow. It no longer lists the original manufacturer or the products’ actual origin.
Some of the goods end up with sanctioned Russian companies, including S7 Airlines and its subsidiaries. These companies have faced difficulties finding spare parts for their fleets.
Declared imports from the Maldives surged
International trade data show that the activity increased significantly after the war in Ukraine began.
Import Genius reports that declared Russian imports originating from the Maldives rose from less than $7 million in 2021 to more than $630 million in 2022.
In 2024, the recorded value was around $160 million. However, this figure may not reflect the full scale of the trade, as Russia has gradually restricted access to customs data.
Products sent to Russia
The goods identified include microchips that can be used in missile guidance systems, optical equipment for tracking satellites and components intended for the space sector.
Some of these parts may be used in civilian aircraft, but they can also be modified for use in military aircraft and long-range missiles.
The expansion of this activity may also be linked to the Maldives’ economic interests. Visitors from Russia make up a significant share of tourists traveling to the archipelago, while the country’s international airport has benefited substantially from cargo transport.
Last July, Malé airport handled 126 tons of cargo in a single day, setting a record.
Western calls for tighter controls
Western governments are urging the Maldives to increase the level of scrutiny over goods transiting to Russia.
The main focus has been on customs procedures. According to reports, transit cargo is verified mainly through documentation, while physical inspections are not carried out systematically.
The Wall Street Journal has also singled out local companies suspected of being involved in organizing the transport. Freight Care and Go Investment have been mentioned in this context.
Hussain Waheed, the director of Freight Care, acknowledged that the company handles goods traveling from Malé to Russia, but denied knowingly assisting in the transport of materials used in weapons production.
