Muaz Ali remanded 10 more days in cigarette theft case

Criminal Court has extended the remand of Muaz Ali, a senior MIFCO official, for another 10 days in connection with the disappearance of over 13.6 million cigarettes seized by Customs held at MPL Hulhumale’ port.

Muaz, along with three others including Apollo Holdings owner Mohamed Waheed (Digali), Lotus Shops owner Ahmed Arif (Attey), and Ziwar Ismail were arrested last Tuesday in relation to the missing cigarette containers.

While the other three were remanded for 15 days, Muaz was initially remanded for five days last Wednesday.

His remand was extended for 10 more days when he was produced before the Criminal Court today.

Following his arrest, Muaz has been suspended from his MIFCO post for 30 days.

According to the court, the Muaz, Waheed and Arif are alleged to have funded the theft of two 40-foot containers of cigarettes, which were smuggled into Maldives on April 26 under the name of Saudi Arabia’s Bin Laden Group.

The containers, held at MPL port for over six months without destruction due to an incomplete investigation, contained; 1,360 cases, equivalent to 13.6 million cigarette sticks, valued at MVR 122 million.

So far, six individuals have been suspended, and 12 people have been placed under a travel ban as part of the investigation. No additional arrests have been reported.