Prominent businessman and Apollo Holdings owner Mohamed Waheed (Dhigali) has been remanded in custody pending trial, while three additional suspects have been arrested in connection with the theft of over 13 million cigarettes seized by Maldives Customs.
The theft involved two containers of smuggled cigarettes confiscated on April 26 and handed over to Maldives Ports Limited (MPL). The case was reported to police the same day.
In addition to Dhigali, Lotus owner Ahmed Arif (Aattey) is accused of financing the theft. Both were among the first suspects arrested, alongside Muaz Ali (48), a former Customs officer and current general manager at MIFCO, and Zivar Ismail (40), a senior Customs official. All four were remanded on October 15, with Dhigali’s remand now extended until the end of his trial.
Subsequent arrests included Hassan Abdul Rahman (52), charged with aiding and abetting the theft, and Adam Waheed (57), captain of the boat that allegedly transported the stolen containers.
On Friday, three more suspects were detained:
Ahmed Shameem, Noorali-ge, H.Dh. Vaikaradhoo (42)  
Ahmed Firshan, H. Romania, Male' City (35)  
Hussain Samih, Chaandhanee, Hithadhoo, Addu City (35)
Firshan was remanded for five days, while Shameem and Samih were remanded for seven.
This brings the total number of arrests in the case to nine. Police have also issued travel bans on 12 individuals, though their identities have not been disclosed.