A man has been arrested for illegally taking out cigarette cartons from Velana International Airport’s departure terminal.
The suspect, Mohamed Aiham, 23, from Velidhoo, was taken into custody on 26 March 2025 under a court order. Police say the incident happened on 21 March at around 1555hrs. Aiham, who works with the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), has been remanded in custody for 10 days.
Earlier in the week, two other men, Ahmed Afzal, 45, and Yusuf Nazir, 38, were also arrested for dumping cigarette cartons at the airport. They were granted conditional bail, but Nazir, a police officer, has been suspended without pay.
Investigations into the incidents are ongoing.
