The Prosecutor General’s Office (PG Office) has filed charges in the Criminal Court against ten individuals accused of stealing 13.6 million cigarettes previously confiscated by Customs for illegal import.

Police had forwarded cases against 11 suspects, of whom ten now face prosecution.

Among those charged are businessmen Mohamed Waheed (Dhigali) and Ahmed Aarif (Aattey), along with former senior Customs officer Muaz Ali. They face two separate counts relating to conspiracy to unlawfully seize property and active participation in the theft.

Customs senior officer Zivar Ismail and two Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) staff members, Ahmed Shaheem and Ahmed Firusan, are also charged with planning and exerting unlawful control over property.

Further charges were brought against MPL staff member Hussain Samih and boat captain Adam Waheed, who allegedly transported the two stolen shipping containers.

The PG Office declined to charge Mohamed, citing insufficient evidence. Shareef was not arrested in connection with the case.

All but three of the accused remain in custody pending trial. The two businessmen and Hassan Abdul Rahman were released at the PG Office’s request, which noted that while they are accused of conspiring in the theft, there is no evidence of direct involvement.

Customs previously revealed that the smuggled cigarettes were discovered during an operation at the Hulhumalé Sea Cargo Terminal, following intelligence that the contraband was hidden in a plywood shipment.

In connection with the case, authorities imposed travel bans on 19 individuals and carried out searches of five vehicles and 21 locations across Malé, Hulhumalé, and Thilafushi.