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Interpol aids drug boat investigation

Mariyam Malsa
13 October 2019, MVT 18:18
Police Commissioner Mohamed Hameed (C) with the team from Interpol. PHOTO: MC HAMEED / TWITTER
Mariyam Malsa
13 October 2019, MVT 18:18

An Incident Response Team from Interpol commenced assisting Maldives Police Service to investigate the foreign vessel intercepted on October 6 with 70 kilograms of narcotic substances.

Police Commissioner Mohamed Hameed revealed that Interpol would assist the Drug Enforcement Department with the ongoing probe.

Furthermore, he stated that the police remained committed to disrupting the drug trade and aimed to deliver a blow to the illicit drug economy.

The Iran-flagged boat was intercepted approximately 172 miles northwest of Thuraakunu, Haa Alifu Atoll along with local fishing vessel 'Hedhey Kuri 7' during a joint operation conducted by the security forces of Maldives, India and Sri Lanka.

Six unidentified individuals aboard the foreign boat were arrested while two locals and a Bangladeshi national were apprehended from the Maldivian vessel.

Overall, a total of 13 individuals were arrested in relation to the case including the captain of the Maldivian fishing vessel.

According to the Hindustan Times, Indian security forces initially received reports of a 150-kilogram shipment of heroin on September 30 while the boat was in international waters. Subsequently, they notified Maldives and Sri Lanka which also began monitoring the vessel's movement.

Although narcotic substances worth MVR 59.2 million were recovered from the vessel, the remaining amount

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