Two Bangladeshi Nationals Arrested Over Alleged Illegal Dollar Trading

The Maldives Police Service and Maldives Immigration have arrested two Bangladeshi nationals suspected of conducting unauthorised foreign currency exchange at inflated rates.

ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް ބޭރު ފައިސާގެ މުއާމަލާތްކުރާ ފަރާތްތަކުގެ މައުލޫމާތު ހިއްސާކުރުމަށް ގާއިމުކޮށްފައިވާ ހޮޓްލައިނަށް ލިބުނު މައުލޫމާތާ ގުޅިގެން، ފުލުހުންނާއި އިމިގްރޭޝަން ގުޅިގެން ކުރި މަސައްކަތުން، ހުއްދަނެތި އަދި ބޮޑުއަގުގައި ބޭރު ފައިސާ ގަނެވިއްކުމުގެ… pic.twitter.com/jJgVjy97QU

— Maldives Police (@PoliceMv) September 14, 2026

Police said the arrests followed information received through a dedicated hotline established to report suspected illegal foreign currency transactions.

The two suspects were identified as MD Masud Ahmed and Abu Tahir. Police said Masud was arrested on September 11, while Tahir was taken into custody yesterday.

Authorities said the two were suspected of conducting unauthorised foreign currency exchange business.

The police are continuing to investigate the case. Legal action against the two suspects will be determined based on further findings and information obtained during the investigation.

The arrests come as authorities investigate alleged unlicensed dollar trading involving foreign nationals.

Speaking at a press conference at the President’s Office yesterday, Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology Ali Ihusaan said 12 foreign nationals were under investigation over alleged involvement in unlicensed US dollar trading following information received through a police hotline.

Ihusaan said nine of the 12 individuals had been placed in immigration detention.

The Maldives Police Service established a task force hotline to allow members of the public to report suspected unlicensed foreign currency trading.