Waheed tight lipped, not spoken to investigation for a month

It has been confirmed that there is only one individual who has not cooperated with nor talked to anyone from the investigation for a month regarding the smuggling and disappearance of 13.6 million cigarettes that were seized by customs in April last year and held at MPL Hulhumale' port. 

Of the nine people who have been arrested regarding this case, Mohamed Waheed (Dhigali), the owner of Apollo Holdings is the person who has been uncooperative.

An individual familiar with the investigation has told Mihaaru News that he opted to "stay silent" since the first day. The individual said that Waheed has not given any information for the investigation.

"However, the others who were arrested have cooperated with the investigation. They talk to the investigative team as well," said the individual.

Waheed was among the first four suspects who were arrested in connection with the disappearance of the shipment that consisted of 1,360 cigarette cases in two 40-foot containers, totaling 13,600,000 cigarettes.

The others who were arrested along with Waheed are Lotus owner Ahmed Arif (Aattey), former Senior Superintendent of Customs Muaz Ali (H. New Happiness) and a senior officer of a Customs Department Ziwar Ismail.

All four of them are currently in remand.

An additional five people have been arrested in connection to the case. Three of them are MPL employees, with them being Hussain Saamih (35 years, Chaandhaneege, Addu Hithadhoo), Ahmed Shaheem (42 years, Nooraleege, Hdh. Vaikaradhoo) and Ahmed Firushan (35 years, H. Rumania).

Of these three suspects who had assisted in the theft of the two 40-foot containers of cigarettes from the MPL Hulhumale' port, Firushan is the only one being held in remand. Saamih and Shaheem were given 16 days of remand in custody when they attended Criminal Court on 1st November for their remand hearing.

As per a statement released by the Police on 4th November, 19 people have been banned from leaving the country regarding the case. It also stated that five vehicles have been searched, along with Male', Hulhumale' and 21 places in Thilafushi.

The Police have requested to come forward with any information regarding the two cigarette containers.

The two containers held Manchester cigarettes, with them having been sealed by locals with a warning label for illegal sale in Maldives.