Man detained with USD-stuffed cereal box receives MVR 12,000 penalty

A Bangladeshi national who attempted to leave the Maldives carrying bundles of US dollars hidden inside a cereal box in August was found guilty of attempting to smuggle goods out of the country on Sunday, with the Criminal Court ordering him to pay a fine of MVR 12,000 and for the state to seize the cash he attempted to smuggle out.

Shahmin Islam Shagur, 32, had on his way to board a flight to Dhaka when he arrested from the Velana International Airport (VIA) on August 25, after airport security found USD 81,030 in cash bundles hidden inside a box of Kellogg’s corn flakes – a popular breakfast cereal – in his backpack. The bundles were labeled and packed neatly inside a tinfoil packet which appeared to have been resealed.

The police had previously stated that it was investigating the case as a money laundering case.

However, Shagur signed a plea deal with the prosecutor general’s office, under which he pled guilty to a lesser charge of attempting to secretly smuggle goods out of the country.

He told the Criminal Court that he does not have the financial means to appoint an attorney, and wishes to the court sentence him as soon as possible and deport him to his home country.

The Criminal Court issued its verdict on Sunday. It found Shagur guilty of the charge based on his confession and instructed him pay a fine of MVR 12,000. The court also ordered for the state to take possession of the USD 81,030 he was found carrying.

Shagur had told the court that Customs had also seized his own money when he was detained – USD 4,500 and € 350 in cash.

He told the court he will be able to pay the fine once the money is returned to him.

As part of the plea deal, the prosecution agreed to release the money to him within five days of sentencing.

Shagur is required to pay the fine to Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) within 15 days.