Letter requesting visa for Artur brothers leaked

A letter sent by the Ministry of Tourism to Immigration Department has been leaked on social media, requesting for Maldivian visa for Armenia’s Artur brothers, who are suspected of being involved in drug trafficking and other illegal activities in cooperation with political leaders around the world.

The letter, sent in January 2013, requests for residence visa in the Maldives for the Artur brothers who are shareholders of a company registered in the Maldives called Artur Brothers World Connection Private Limited.

The letter states that Artur Brothers World Connection Private Limited had expressed interest in investing in tourism in the Maldives, and that the brothers require residence visa because they intend to conduct long-term business in the Maldives.

It has not yet been possible to verify the authenticity of this letter.

Home Minister Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed has said that the police have been ordered to investigate the accuracy of the information circulating in the media in relation to the Artur Brothers' activities in the Maldives.

Arthur Brothers World Connection was registered in the Maldives Economic Ministry on the 14 August 2012. At first, the Maldivian shareholder of the company was Ismail Waseem of H. Ever Chance. The shares were later transferred to Abdullah Shaffath of H. Ever Peace.