One more arrested in connection with illegal cigarette export from duty-free

Another person has been arrested in connection with the illegal export of cigarettes from duty-free.

Providing information to the media, Malidves Police Service (MPS) revealed that the person arrested in connection with the case is Mohamed Aiham, 23, native to Velidhoo island of Noonu atoll.

He was arrested in connection with the case were cigarettes were illegally exported from Velana International Airport Duty Free, reported at around 03:55pm on 21 March 2025

The police institution went on to reveal that the suspect was arrested on Wednesday.

Upon being presented to the court for his remand hearing, the court ordered him to be held in custody for 10 days.

The first suspects arrested in connection with the illegal cigarette export from duty-free were Ahmed Afsal, 45, and Yoosuf Nazeer, 38.

Yoosuf Nazeer is employed at the Maldives Police Service.

However, when the two suspects were presented to court for a remand hearing, the court released them with conditions.

On Tuesday night Maldives Customs Service revealed that they are investigating a case where attempts were made to smuggle cartons of cigarettes out of VIA.

However, further details were not disclosed by the customs service.

Customs did reveal that the confiscated items were found by officers who inspected dustbin bags that were being taken out of the airport's departure terminal. However, the number of cartons found in the dustbin bags was not disclosed.

In a message sent to the media on Wednesday, the police institution revealed that Customs submitted a case to them on the night of March 25 regarding an attempt to smuggle a large number of duty-free cigarettes into the country from the VIA departure hall.