Parliament’s Committee on National Security Services (241 Committee) has postponed the meeting it has scheduled for next week as part of the Committee’s probe into the theft of 13.6 million cigarettes seized by Maldives Customs Service which was stored in two containers at the seaport in Hulhumale’.
The two containers containing 13.6 million sticks of cigarettes smuggled into the Maldives were seized by Maldives Customs Service on April 26, and kept at Hulhumale’ seaport, managed by Maldives Ports Limited (MPL). The theft of the cigarettes was discovered on October 8.
In a closed-door meeting held by the 241 Committee regarding the case on Wednesday, the Committee decided to summon officials from the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology to appear before the Committee on Sunday. Officials from the Maldives Police Service, Customs and MPL have also been summoned for questioning.
However, the Parliament Secretariat, on Thursday, said the meeting has been postponed by a week.
According to the Parliament’s spokesperson, the meeting was postponed due to the possibility that holding it at this time would obstruct the authorities’ investigation. The Spokesperson provided no further details.
Four people have been arrested by the Police, who are believed to be ringleaders behind the heist; two business conglomerates Ahmed Arif (Aattey), the owner of Lotus and Mohamed Waheed (Dhigali), the owner of Apollo Holdings, Customs’ Superintendent Zivar Simail and Maldives Fisheries Company Limited (MIFCO)’s Engineering and Projects Department’s general Manager Muaz Ali, who is a former Customs official.
Muaz has been remanded in custody for five days, Dhigali Waheed for 10 days and Aattey and Zivaar for 15 days.
Customs has suspended Zivar in connection with the case, while MIFCO respectively suspended Muaz.
MPL has also announced the suspension of six employees in connection with the case.
The Police have also imposed travel bans on 12 individuals and searched multiple vessels and other properties as they investigate the case.