Minister Fayyaz Denies Allegations Linking His Driver to $81,030 Seizure at VIA

Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail has publicly denied allegations circulating on social media that his driver was apprehended at Velana International Airport with a significant amount of undeclared cash. Speaking at a press conference on today, Fayyaz dismissed the claims as baseless, emphasizing that the individual detained in connection with the incident is not his driver.

The controversy began when reports surfaced that a Bangladeshi national, Shahmin Islam Shagur, was arrested at Velana International Airport while attempting to smuggle $81,030 concealed in a suitcase. The suspect has since been placed in judicial custody for 15 days as authorities investigate potential money laundering charges.

Minister Fayyaz addressed these rumors, stating that social media posts falsely identified Shagur as his driver. Fayyaz clarified that his driver is not Bangladeshi and urged the public to disregard the misinformation being spread online.

In response to the incident, the Aviation Security Command released photographs and videos showing the confiscated dollars, which were retrieved from a sealed packet. The dollar bundles were labeled with various names, though the connection to Fayyaz remains unsubstantiated.

According to Maldivian customs regulations, any amount exceeding $20,000 being taken out of the country must be declared to customs officials. The case has prompted an ongoing investigation to determine the origins and intended destination of the funds.

This incident has sparked public interest and concern, particularly given the strict financial regulations in place to combat money laundering and other financial crimes in the Maldives.