The police have launched a major operation in K. Huraa in connection to a heist at the Velana International Airport on Monday, in which masked robbers snatched a suitcase full of money from bank staff.
The crime, which sent shockwaves around the country, took place at around 04:45 am Monday, 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.
Eight hours later, Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan announced the arrest of four suspects and the recovery of the boat they used in their escape.
A credible source from Huraa told Sun that the robbers likely fled to the island. He said the police had recovered the speedboat they used from the island’s harbor.
According to the source, the owner of a guesthouse in Huraa reported a group of individuals who visited the place on Monday being caught on CCTV handing a large amount of USD.
Multiple sources report the police are in Huraa investigating the case.
While the police have confirmed the arrest of four suspects and the recovery of the speedboat they are believed to have used in their escape, they have not provided any update of the stolen money.
When asked for an update, the police spokesperson responded on Tuesday morning that they are unable to provide information regarding any further developments at this time.
The police have not disclosed the identities of the suspects.
While the police have not specified which bank the stolen money belongs to, or how much money the suitcase contained, Sun has been informed 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.
“I contained around USD 100,000. It also contained cash in other currencies, including Euros,” said a source who spoke to Sun on condition of anonymity on Monday.
However, the exact amount of money stolen in the robbery remains unclear.
A source told Sun that the robbers had timed the robbery perfectly to the arrival of the bank staff with the money.
They arrived at the airport in a taxi, and fled on a speedboat.
The BML has declined to comment on the case.
The police remain tightlipped on the case, but did say that a police escort wasn’t requested for the money transfer.
The security at the VIA is managed by the Aviation Security Command, a unit run under the Defense Ministry, with assistance from the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) and the police.
But in July, the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) created an Estate Security Department, to manage security at parking areas, jetties, taxi queues, the company’s assets, and the safety and security of the larger Hulhule’.
The MACL has refused to disclose the cost of running the new department.