One of the key suspects in the MVR 100 million cigarette theft from the Maldives Ports Limited Hulhumalé International Terminal, Muaz Ali, has been remanded for an additional 10 days.

The former Customs officer was initially remanded for five days following his arrest on October 14, along with Senior Customs official Zivar Ismail, Lotus Fihaara owner Ahmed Arif, and Apollo Holdings CEO Mohamed Waheed.

Police allege the group planned and executed the theft of 1,360 cases of cigarettes, valued at over MVR 100 million, which had been held under state custody after being seized by authorities earlier this year.

Both Arif and Waheed have prior corruption records, having been arrested in 2013 for the misappropriation of MVR 24 million from the National Disaster Management Center (NDMC).

Meanwhile, sources confirm that Muaz Ali’s arrest came just one day after police requested the Prosecutor General’s Office to charge him in a separate case, in which he allegedly demanded a bribe related to the theft of 450 cases of cigarettes.

Muaz, who previously served as a Senior Superintendent at the Maldives Customs Service, was suspended in 2018 and later dismissed. Despite this, he was rehired as General Manager at the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company under the current administration.

Authorities describe the case as one of the most serious breaches involving state-seized goods in recent years, with recovery efforts and further arrests expected as the probe continues.