Police arrested a 24-year-old man, Ahmed Lujain, from Sh. Feydhoo, early Saturday morning in Malé after he was found carrying dozens of stolen cigarette cartons.

Lujain was apprehended by officers patrolling near Olympus Cinema around 0540hrs, who stopped him after finding his behaviour suspicious and subsequently discovered 67 cigarette cartons in the bags he was carrying.

Upon investigation, authorities confirmed that the cartons had been stolen from Ocean Nautical Pvt. Ltd. Lujain was presented at the Criminal Court for a remand hearing on Sunday, where he was ordered to remain in police custody for five days as the investigation continues.

The arrest comes just a day after the government imposed a significant increase on the import duty and ad valorem tax on cigarettes, highlighting heightened scrutiny around tobacco products amid rising taxes.