Police have arrested four individuals in connection with a robbery involving a large sum of US dollars at Velana International Airport (VIA) last night.

According to a statement shared with the media, the incident occurred around 4:45 a.m. when two employees of a local bank were attempting to enter VIA’s Terminal 1 with a suitcase containing cash. The money, reportedly exceeding USD 100,000, was being transported to the new terminal’s dollar counter.

The suspects, who were masked and armed with knives, are alleged to have threatened the bank employees and stolen the suitcase while airport security personnel were present. It has also been reported that pepper spray was used against an aviation security officer who attempted to intervene, though this detail has not yet been officially confirmed.

Police noted that the bank did not use police security to escort the cash during the transfer.

Following the robbery, the perpetrators fled the scene. Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihsan announced via X that four suspects have been arrested and the speedboat used in the crime has been seized.

The Minister commended the Maldives Police Service for their swift progress in the investigation.