Maldives Police Service has announced the arrest of an additional person in connection with the heist at Velana International Airport (VIA), when robbers snatched a suitcase full of money from bank staff.
The crime, which sent shockwaves around the country, took place at around 04:45am on October 27, 2025, when masked robbers snatched a suitcase estimated to contain around USD 100,000 from two bank employees as they were about to enter the new international passenger terminal at the VIA.
The robbers went to the airport in a taxi and fled on a speedboat.
The additional suspect arrested in connection with the case has been identified as Ismail Sirhan, 30, Meezan, R. Maduvvari.
He was arrested on Tuesday and has been remanded in custody for 30 days on Wednesday.
This brings the total number of arrests in connection with the case to eight. According to the Police, all the suspects remain in their custody.
The seven other suspects who have been arrested in connection with the case:
Hussain Shahud, 30, Alhivilaage, K. Guraidhoo
Ibrahim Anoof, 24, Alhivilaage, K. Guraidhoo
Ahmed Raihan Naeem, 20, M. Chorus, K. Male’
Mazin Moosa, 25, Reysham, L. Maavah
Ali Afzal, 21, S. Hithadhoo, Vasahgulimaage
Ahmed Maidh, 44, Eheevaage, Th. Thilafushi
Abdul Awwal Ibrahim Aboobakr, 27, Binaa, GA. Villingili
All seven suspects have been remanded in custody pending the outcome of their trial.
The Police have also stated they have imposed travel bans on four individuals. However, their identities have not been disclosed.
While Home Minister Ali Ihusan announced the seizure of the speedboat used by the culprits in the case, neither Ihusan nor the Police has yet to confirm whether the stolen money has been recovered.
The exact sum of the stolen money has not been disclosed either.
Although the police have not specified which bank the stolen money belongs to, or how much money the suitcase contained, Sun has learned through credible sources that the suitcase was snatched as it was being taken to the Bank of Maldives (BML) counter at the airport, and contained cash for foreign currency exchange and USD for issuance to travelers.