PG Office Files Charges Against 10 in Major Cigarette Theft Case

News

The Prosecutor General’s Office has filed charges in the Criminal Court against ten individuals in connection with the theft of 13.6 million cigarettes that had been seized by Customs for illegal import.

Police forwarded cases involving 11 individuals for prosecution. Of these, charges have been filed against ten, while the Prosecutor General’s Office decided not to pursue charges against Mohamed Shareef, Male’ Registry number 1355, citing insufficient evidence. Shareef was also not arrested in connection with the case.

Two separate charges have been filed against businessmen Mohamed Waheed, Dhigali, and Ahmed Aarif, Aattey, who are accused of planning the theft, as well as former senior Customs officer Muaz Ali. The charges relate to conspiring to unlawfully take control of another person’s property and actively participating in the offence.

Customs senior officer Zivar Ismail and Maldives Ports Limited staff members Ahmed Shaheem of Nooralige, HDh. Vaikaradhoo, and Ahmed Firusan of H. Rumania are also facing two charges each. These include unlawfully exerting control over another person’s property and conspiring to commit the act.

Maldives Ports Limited staff member Hussain Samih of Chandhaneege, S. Hithadhoo, and the captain of the vessel used to transport the two stolen shipping containers, Adam Waheed, have been charged with participating in unlawfully exerting control over another person’s property.

All but three of the accused remain in custody until the conclusion of the trial. The two businessmen and Hassan Abdul Rahman were released following a request by the Prosecutor General’s Office, which stated that while they are accused of conspiring in the theft, there is no evidence showing their active participation in carrying out the crime.

Customs has previously stated that the smuggled cigarettes were discovered during an operation at the Hulhumalé Sea Cargo Terminal, based on intelligence indicating that the cigarettes were concealed within a plywood shipment.

In connection with the case, travel bans have been imposed on 19 individuals. Police also conducted searches on five vehicles and 21 locations across Malé, Hulhumalé, and Thilafushi as part of the investigation.