Man arrested with USD 81,030 hidden inside cereal box remanded for 15 days

A Bangladeshi national who attempted to leave the Maldives carrying bundles of US dollars hidden inside a cereal box has been remanded in custody of the police for 15 days.

Shahmin Islam Shagur, 32, was arrested from the Velana International Airport (VIA) on Sunday, after airport security found USD 81,030 in cash bundles hidden inside his luggage.

Shahmin was presented before the Criminal Court for his remand hearing on Monday. The court remanded him in custody of the police for 15 days.

According to the police, he is under investigation for money laundering.

The bundles of cash found from Shahmin were hidden inside a box of Kellogg’s corn flakes – a popular breakfast cereal. The bundles were labeled and packed neatly inside a tinfoil packet which appeared to have been resealed.

މިއަދު (25 އޯގަސްޓް 24) ޔޫއެސް ބަންގްލާ އެއަރލައިންސް (BS338) އިން މާލެއިން ޑާކާއަށް ދަތުރުކުރަން ދިޔަ ބަންގްލަދޭޝް ރައްޔިތެއްގެ ލަގެޖްގައި ފޮރުވައިގެން ޤަވާޢިދާއި ޚިލާފަށް ރާއްޖެއިން ބޭރުކުރަން އުޅުނު 81030 ނަގުދު ފައިސާ (USD )AVSECOMmv@ ގެ ސްކްރީނިންގް ޓީމުން ވަނީ ހޯދާފައެވެ . pic.twitter.com/L1hadeBqMY

— AVSECOM (@AVSECOMmv) August 25, 2024

He had been about to fly from Male’ to Dhaka on US-Bangla Airlines.