Cigarette heist: Latest arrests were of MPL staff for collusion

The three individuals arrested last Friday in relation to the theft of over 13 million cigarettes are all staff employed at Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) who colluded in the theft.

The three individuals are Ahmed Shameem, 42, Nooraleege, HDh. Vaikaradhoo, Ahmed Firshan, 35, H. Rumania, and Hussain Saamih, 35, Chaandhaneege, Addu Hithadhoo. 

All three were arrested last Friday. The Criminal Court yesterday placed them in remand in custody as the investigation proceeds. Shameem and Saamih received 7 days in remand in custody, while Firshan received five days. 

The three were key figures who colluded in allowing the theft to take place, Mihaaru News reports. One of the three is also alleged to have switched off the CCTV cameras at Hulhumale' port at the time the theft took place. 

The three are also amongst the six members of staff that MPL suspended from October 12 onwards in relation to this case. 

To date, nine individuals have been arrested in connection with the theft of two shipping containers containing over 13 million cigarettes. The containers had been seized by Customs in April while being smuggled in under the name of Saudi Arabia's Bin Ladin group and were stored at the MPL Port at the time of the theft. 

These 9 individuals are:

Renowned businessmen Mohamed Waheed (Dhigali) of Apollo Holdings and Ahmed Arif (Aattey) of Lotus were arrested on charges of funding the theft operation. 

Dhigali was initially given ten days remand, but the court later extended it to hold him in custody until the end of trial. Aattey was given 15 days remand, which is yet to expire. 

Police have earlier said that in relation to this case, travel bans have been placed on 12 individuals. 

The two 40 feet shipping containers had 1,360 cigarette cases, which comes to a total of 13.6 million cigarette sticks. Customs said that taking into account the seized brands, duty charges for this amount of cigarettes would come to MVR 122 million.