Maldives Police Service has arrested four suspects—including two businessmen and two Maldives Customs personnel—in the theft of two 40-foot containers of seized cigarettes from the Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) Hulhumalé International Terminal. Police say the incident occurred on April 26, 2025 and was formally reported on October 9, 2025; investigators have imposed travel bans on 12 individuals and searched multiple vessels and premises linked to the operation.
According to reliable sources, the four men arrested Tuesday night are alleged key planners and executors:
- Mohamed Waheed, Dhigali, B. Eydhafushi — businessman
- Ahmed Arif, Ma. Ever Glory, K. Malé — businessman
- Muaz Ali, New Happiness, K. Malé — former Customs officer
- Zivar Ismail, Medhureege, HDh. Vaikaradhoo — senior Customs officer
Police said efforts to recover the contraband and identify additional suspects are ongoing.
Independent reports indicate the missing cargo totaled 1,360 cases (about 13.6 million sticks) held under state custody at MPL, representing well over MVR 100 million in potential import duty for the government. Customs and MPL have both opened internal inquiries into how the containers vanished from a secured terminal.
The cigarettes were originally seized and held at Hulhumalé after authorities intercepted them among a plywood shipment; the disappearance triggered a multi-agency probe last week and intensified scrutiny on storage controls and access logs at the terminal.
The case comes amid a broader national clampdown on illicit tobacco trade following higher cigarette duties introduced in late 2024, a policy shift officials say has coincided with a rise in smuggling attempts. Recent police operations have separately netted suspects and large caches of tobacco products in the Malé area.
“We will continue to release further information as the investigation progresses,” police said, noting that additional searches and interviews are underway.
Editor’s note on timeline: Local outlets report the consignment linked to the missing containers was first detected at Hulhumalé in late April, with one report citing April 26, 2024. Police have stated the theft occurred on April 26, 2025. Authorities have not yet publicly reconciled this discrepancy.
If confirmed, the theft would mark one of the most serious recent breaches involving goods under official custody, raising questions about internal collusion and terminal security protocols at MPL and Customs.
*This story will be updated as police and port authorities release verified details, including charge sheets and recovery totals.*
