31 cigarette cartons go missing from Vilimale' Police Station

31 cigarette cartons seized in two different cases and kept at the Vilimale' Police Station have gone missing. 

Police said today that of 32 cigarette cartons seized on suspicion of having been smuggled into the country and stored at the Vilimale' Police Station, six have gone missing. Police said that the issue is now being investigated internally. 

Police said that these 32 cartons were seized from an expatriate on May 23 this year. 

Police said that they discovered the loss of six cartons when the items were being prepared for handover to Customs on November 12. 

Through probing this, it came to their notice that 25 cigarette cartons seized in a separate case were also missing. 

These 25 cartons were seized from two expatriates on December 23, 2024 and kept under Vilimale' Police Station's care, according to Police. 

The Professional Standards Command is now looking in to the matter, while a separate criminal investigation will also be conducted, Police said. 

It has been reported that these 31 cigarette cartons are on Manchester brand, and had been seized from Thilafushi. 

Meanwhile, Police are also investigating a case where 13.6 million cigarettes kept under MPL's care at the Hulhumale' Port were stolen. Police have so far arrested ten individuals in relation to this case.