Three brothers arrested for smuggling vapes and cigarettes

Three brothers have been arrested in connection with the smuggling of a large quantity of cigarettes and vapes into Maldives, police said today.

Officers raided three locations under a court order and detained four brothers from Laamu atoll Maabaidhoo. Three of them – Nashwan Mohamed, 32, Nahuzan Mohamed, 25, and Nabhan Mohamed, 22, of Shadycorner, Maabaidhoo – were taken into custody based on evidence gathered during the operation.

Nashwan and Nahuzan were later released on conditions after being produced in court, while Nabhan was remanded in custody for three days.

Police said a “large number of prohibited items” were seized, along with mobile phones and social media channels allegedly used to trade these items.

During the raid, officers also recovered vapes, suspected drugs, MVR 111,880 in cash, and other contraband from a motorcycle and an apartment linked to the suspects.