Cigarette theft: Arif, Waheed accused of funding operation

The two businessmen who were arrested in regards to the disappearance of 13.6 million cigarettes that were seized by customs in April last year and held at MPL Hulhumale' port have been accused of funding the operation.

Apollo CEO Mohamed Waheed (Dhigali) and Lotus owner Ahmed Arif (Aattey) were among those arrested on Tuesday night regarding the disappearance of cigarettes that were smuggled in two 40-foot containers under Saudi Arabia's Binladin Group's name on 26th April 2024.

The court had sentenced Waheed (65) to 10 days in prison, with Arif (61) being sentenced to 15 days in prison.

As per the court order for B. Eydhafushi native Waheed, he was accused of colluding with various individuals in stealing the containers held by MPL, as per evidence. The warrant states that there is some evidence that points to Waheed and Arif masterminding, running and funding the operation.

The Investigation Officer has been told that Arif was apprehended in line with due procedure, and to arrange for medical treatment for diagnosed conditions under the custodial policy.

Even though defense lawyers stated that Waheed was first taken to a custodial prison which violates the procedure for carrying out an arrest, the Criminal Court's order states that the submitted evidence showed that the arrest procedure was in line.

Senior officer of a Customs Department Ziwar Ismail who had been working at Hulhumale' Port was among the arrested and imprisoned for 15 days, along with former Senior Superintendent of Customs Muaz Ali who has been imprisoned for five days, as per court sentencing.

The prison sentence accuses Ziwar and Muaz of having partaken in the planning and running of the operation.

Muaz has been accused of seeking bribes for importing 430 cigarette cases, with the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) having requested the Prosecutor General's (PG) office charge him this month.

Muaz is currently the General Manager (Engineering Projects) at the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO).

Customs has suspended Ziwar and MIFCO has suspended Muaz upon their arrest.

Authorities told the media that 12 people have been placed under a travel ban due to the investigation, along with MPL suspending six of their employees.

MPL has also said that they have begun bolstering port security.

As per information, more than 13.6 million cigarettes were moved via a marine vehicle from MPL's Hulhumale' Port. Sources have also said that there was an attempt to cover the CCTV from capturing the theft.

Customs stated that the cigarettes were not destroyed at the time, as the investigation into their smuggling was still ongoing. Customs found out the cigarettes went missing from both containers on the night of 8th October.

The shipment consisted of 1,360 cigarette cases in two 40-foot containers, totaling 13,600,000 cigarettes. This would amount to MVR 122 million in import duty for the state, as per Customs.

Customs has said in the past that the two containers were initially found among a plywood shipment at the Hulhumale' International Terminal on 26th April 2024.