Airport dollar theft: Four apprehended, getaway speedboat located

Four suspects allegedly involved in the theft of a cash-filled suitcase from two employees of Bank of Maldives (BML) who had been going in to Terminal 1 at Velana International Airport last night have now been apprehended. 

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan announced the arrests in a post on social media platform, X. 

   

Minister Ihusan stated that police have recovered the speedboat used in the crime, and arrested four suspects. 

"I commend the officers for their swift and effective efforts in advancing the investigation and securing the suspects," the Minister wrote. 

Police are yet to release the identities of the four suspects. 

The stolen suitcase contained close to USD 130,000 in cash, according to Mihaaru News. 

Sources close to the incident revealed that the perpetrators threatened the two staff members with knives.

The suitcase that was stolen contained dollars meant for issuance to local travelers headed abroad this morning, the source said. 

The thieves threatened the BML staff and stole the suitcase in the walkway between the old terminal and the new Terminal 1, they said. 

Another source shared that as they fled with the suitcase, the thieves had sprayed a substance in the faces of Aviation Security Command Officers at the scene and threatened them with knives, as well. 

The suspects fled using a speedboat docked at the VIA jetty, according to a source. 

Police said this morning that they received reports at around 4:45am today of two masked robbers stealing a cash-filled suitcase from two employees of a bank at the airport. 

Police later clarified that the BML staff did not use Police security during the transport of these funds.