Maldives Police Service has revealed that the individuals involved in stealing the vehicle of Ibrahim Shareef, Managing Director of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), had also stolen a vehicle belonging to the Maldives Immigration.

MACL MD Shareef's vehicle was stolen on April 24 while it was parked in a high-security zone at Velana International Airport (VIA).

Police arrested Ahmed Nizam, 43, and MACL employee Mohamed Haisham, 42, in connection with the case.

Speaking at a press conference held by the police at Iskandharukoshi on Thursday, Chief Superintendent of Police Mohamed Dawood stated that the MD's vehicle was first taken from the airport to Hulhumale. It was then driven to the area near the Orange Building close to the Hulhumale Villa Petrol Shed, where the number plate was changed before bringing it to Male'. On the night of the incident, the vehicle was brought and parked in a garage on the ground floor of H. Eeramge, which Dawood noted was a garage rented to Nizam.

Dawood said that MACL MD's vehicle and a vehicle belonging to Immigration which was stolen a month prior was found at the garage.

He revealed that 100 vehicles were registered under the name of the party operating the mentioned garage, including 86 four-wheeled vehicles. Out of the 86 vehicles, 42 were registered under Nizam's wife's name, while the remaining vehicles were registered under his name.

Dawood stated that the garage was involved in obscuring the origins of the vehicles by removing the engine and chassis numbers, and this business was being conducted on a large scale.

He further added that documents for the vehicles were also issued in violation of regulations.

"It has been noted that vehicle registrations were obtained through the Transport [Authority] prior to 2023, with vehicles being registered under the names of years that do not match, such as 2025, 2026, and 2027, and the registrations were issued," Dawood said.

The police are treating this case as a very serious matter and are conducting thorough investigations.