Senior Sergeant Arrested Over Missing Cigarettes from Villimale’ Police Station

A senior sergeant has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of cartons of cigarettes from the Villimale’ Police Station.

The suspect, identified as Munawwar Adam, 39, from Shabnameege, A.Dh. Dhigurah, has been suspended pending investigation.

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The case is being investigated jointly by the Maldives Police Service and the National Integrity Commission.

Police reported that 32 cartons of cigarettes seized from a foreign national on 23 May were stored at the Villimale’ station, but six cartons went missing. Additionally, 25 cartons seized from two foreign nationals on 23 December last year were also reported missing while in custody at the same station.

Authorities highlighted that cigarette smuggling and theft have become recurring issues. On 26 April, two containers of cigarettes seized by Customs were stolen from the Maldives Ports Limited Hulhumale’ International Terminal, with the case officially filed with police on 9 November.