Another arrest made in stolen cigarette containers case

Authorities have made another arrest in the ongoing investigation into the theft of two containers of cigarettes from the Maldives Customs Service. The latest suspect, a 52-year-old Maldivian man, was taken into custody late Tuesday night. His identity has not been made public yet.

The theft, which occurred on 26 April 2025, involved two containers held at the Maldives Ports Limited at the Hulhumalé International Terminal. Despite the incident taking place in April, the case was only reported to the police on October 9, nearly six months later, raising serious questions about the delay in reporting and the overall handling of the matter.

As part of the investigation, police carried out searches at multiple locations in Thilafushi on October 19. During the operation, parts of the stolen containers were recovered and are now in police custody.