2 arrested for cigarette smuggling at airport released

Two men who were arrested on Tuesday for attempting to smuggle a large number of cigarette cartons from the departure hall of Velana International Airport (VIA) have been released on conditions by the court, police confirmed on Wednesday.

Maldives Customs Service has launched an investigation into the attempted smuggling. The case was reported to the police at 6:20 pm on Tuesday.

According to the police, the two individuals were arrested under a court order in connection with the incident. They are:

Both individuals were presented before the Criminal Court for a decision on their remand. Police stated that they were released on conditions but did not disclose further details regarding the case.

Some media outlets have reported that one of the accused is a police officer. However, neither the police nor Maldives Customs Service have commented on the allegation.