Senior police officers suspected to be involved in cigarette smuggling case

An investigation has been launched into several senior police officers suspected of involvement in smuggling cigarette cartons out of Velana International Airport (VIA)’s Departure Terminal.

Customs said the cigarette cartons were discovered inside trash bags being taken out of the Departure Terminal.

Sharing an update on the case to Sun, Home Ministry’s Spokesperson Fathimath Rifath said an investigation has been launched against several senior police officers suspected of involvement in the cigarette smuggling case, with significant amounts of money cycled through their accounts.

Two arrests were made in connection to the case on March 25^th: Ahmed Afsal, 45, M. Silver Nest and Yoosuf Nazeer, 38, Dhafthar RS14358. While both suspects have since been released, Nazeer, who is a police officer, has been suspended without pay.

A third arrest was made later: Mohamed Aiham, 23, Gaskara, N. Velidhoo. He is an MNDF soldier working at the airport.

Although the attempt to smuggle a large quantity of cigarettes was reported, police have not disclosed the exact number.

In the current administration’s intense anti-tobacco efforts, the Maldives government made vape and all of its related products illegal as of December last year while another stringent regulation was implemented last week that banned filter tubes and boxes used in rolling handmade cigarettes.

The new regulation has further surged tobacco prices locally intensifying public concerns over smuggling.