2 plead guilty, businessman Waheed yet to cooperate in cigarette theft probe
All nine suspects remain in custody pending trial.
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Two men arrested in connection with the theft of more than 13 million cigarettes from the Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) Hulhumalé port have pleaded guilty, police have confirmed.
The case involves two containers of cigarettes seized by Maldives Customs in late April. The theft came to light earlier last month, leading to the arrest of nine suspects.
Among those arrested, two MPL employees confessed to the theft. They are:
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Ahmed Shameem, 42, of Nooraleege, HDh. Vaikaradhoo
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Hussain Samih, 35, of Chandhaneege, S. Hithadhoo
All nine suspects remain in custody pending trial.
Two businessmen were also among those arrested — Apollo Holdings shareholder Mohamed Waheed and Ahmed Arif, owner of Lotus.
Sources told Atoll Times that all suspects except Mohamed Waheed have cooperated with the investigation and provided statements. Waheed has yet to give a statement to investigators.
The stolen shipment is estimated to be worth around MVR 122 million based on prevailing retail prices. Authorities have not yet recovered the missing cigarettes.
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