Two Businessmen and Eight More Charged Over Cigarettes Heist
Authorities have filed charges against businessmen Mohamed Waheed, widely known as Digali, and Ahmed Arif, also known as Aattey, along with eight other suspects in connection with the disappearance of more than 13.6 million seized cigarettes from Maldives Ports Limited’s (MPL) Hulhumalé harbour.
Waheed, owner of Apollo Holdings, and Arif, owner of Lotus, were among ten individuals arrested after two 40-foot containers of confiscated cigarettes went missing. Both men had been held on suspicion of financing the operation but were released last week.
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According to the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO), the allegations against Waheed, Arif, and a third suspect, Hassan Abdul Rahman, relate to conspiracy rather than direct involvement in the physical theft. The PGO said available evidence did not support claims that the trio participated directly in the heist. All three have been released at the PGO’s request but remain under court-ordered conditions while the case proceeds. Other suspects continue to be held in custody.
Police submitted a chargesheet naming 11 individuals, but the PGO confirmed that the case of Mohamed Shareef had been returned to investigators due to insufficient evidence. Shareef was not among those initially arrested.
ނޫސްބަޔާން: ކަސްޓަމްސްގެ ބެލުމުގެދަށުގައި ހުރި ސިނގިރޭޓް ކޮންޓެއިނަރ ވަގަށްނެގި މައްސަލާގައި ދަޢުވާކުރުންhttps://t.co/IsqY2RL7I1 pic.twitter.com/v5qcX4AKMF— Prosecutor General’s Office (@PGO_MV) December 15, 2025
Waheed, Arif and Abdul Rahman face accusations of illegally possessing property belonging to another. The PGO stated that prosecutors will seek the maximum penalty permitted by law should the charges be proven.
Three MPL employees are among those detained in relation to the case.
The investigation focuses on two containers containing more than 1,360 cases of cigarettes, valued at approximately MVR 122 million in duty. Maldives Customs had seized the shipment on 26 April after discovering the cigarettes concealed within a plywood consignment linked to the Bin Laden Group, the main contractor for the new Velana International Airport terminal project.
Police later recovered parts of the stolen containers during a search operation in Thilafushi on 19 October. These items have been taken into evidence as the inquiry continues.
