Marine vessel that illegally entered Maldivian waters found by military drone

A foreign marine vessel that had sailed into Maldivian waters against the law has been found by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and halted.

The MNDF stated today that the Air Corps utilized drone surveillance to find the foreign vessel that was illegally operating in Maldivian waters.

The MNDF also said that the Coast Guard Special Boat Squadron had inspected and brought the vessel under MNDF custody.

No other details regarding the vessel have been given by the MNDF.

The Air Corps began operating out of Gan Air Station, the very first military air station in Maldives, on Wednesday. Local waters are being surveilled with the help of surveillance drones bought from Turkey by the Maldivian government.

As per the government, the air station was established to safeguard and sustain the Islamic faith, Maldivian independence, and the sovereignty of the country, particularly for monitoring the Maldivian airspace and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and conducting operations using aerial assets.

During the inauguration ceremony of the Gan Air Station, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stated that a second air station would be opened in Sh. Funadhoo.

President Muizzu said that the country will receive larger investments if investors believe Maldives is a safe nation, stating that if air station capabilities are increased, the Maldivian economy would move in a positive direction.