Four people have been arrested in connection with the disappearance of two containers holding more than 13.6 million cigarettes that had been seized by the Maldives Customs Service at the Hulhumalè commercial port.
Police have not officially named those arrested, but local media identify them as businessmen Ahmed Arif (owner of Lotus shop) and Mohamed Waheed (owner of Apollo Holdings Private Limited), along with former senior superintendent of customs Muaz Ali and senior customs officer Ziwar Ismail.
The Criminal Court ordered their arrests and authorised the seizure of their phones, while investigators continue to execute search warrants at multiple locations, including the home of a senior MIFCO official, according to media reports.
Customs originally seized the shipment on 26 April this year after discovering the cigarettes concealed within a plywood shipment arriving at the Hulhumalè Sea-Cargo Terminal. The shipment comprised two 40-foot containers holding 1,360 cases, equivalent to more than 13.6 million cigarettes. The agency estimated the unpaid import duty alone at over MVR 122 million.
The cigarettes had not been destroyed because the smuggling investigation was still ongoing. The containers were later found empty, and authorities said the disappearance was discovered on the night of 8 October after police received intelligence about the theft.
Maldives Ports Limited (MPL), which had custody of the containers, has launched an internal inquiry but declined to share further information, citing the ongoing police investigation.
Twelve people have reportedly been barred from leaving the country, and police have carried out searches at several locations, including homes and vehicles.
Police have not confirmed the identities of the four suspects or disclosed additional evidence tied to the case. The investigation is ongoing.