Male' City- Maldives Police Service has arrested four individuals — including two prominent businessmen and two Customs officers — in connection with the theft of over MVR 100 million worth of cigarettes from state custody.

Those arrested include Ahmed Arif, owner of Lotus Fihaara; Mohamed Waheed, CEO of Apollo Holdings; former Customs officer Muaz Ali; and senior Customs employee Zivar Ismail.

Police said the suspects were detained for allegedly planning and executing the theft of 1,360 cases of cigarettes from containers stored at the Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) Hulhumalé International Terminal. The containers were under state custody after being seized earlier this year when authorities intercepted the contraband concealed within a plywood shipment.

According to police, the theft occurred on April 26, 2025, and was formally reported last week. The missing cargo represents over MVR 100 million in potential import duty and is considered one of the most serious breaches involving seized goods in recent years.

Investigators have imposed travel bans on 12 individuals and carried out multiple searches of vessels and properties linked to the operation. Police confirmed that efforts are ongoing to recover the missing cigarettes and identify any additional suspects involved in the case.

Authorities, including Maldives Customs Service and MPL, have launched internal investigations to determine how the containers disappeared from a secured terminal.

Both Ahmed Arif and Mohamed Waheed were previously arrested in 2013 in connection with a corruption case involving MVR 24 million from the National Disaster Management Center (NDMC).