300kg drug bust: Five aboard Sri Lankan vessel handed to Police

Five individuals who were aboard the Sri Lankan vessel which had been intercepted through military drone surveillance on Friday while illegally in Maldivian waters have now been handed over to Police. 

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) stated tonight that the fishing vessel seized by the Coast Guard, along with the large quantity of drugs found onboard and the five individuals aboard have been handed over to Police. 

Authorities are yet to disclose the exact quantity of drugs found or the identities of those detained. 

However, Sri Lankan newspapers reported yesterday that the ship was carrying around 300 kilograms of heroin and crystal meth (“ice”). 

The boat, manned by six Sri Lankan fishermen, was reportedly apprehended based on intelligence shared by the Sri Lankan Navy.

According to MNDF, the vessel was detected during a surveillance operation conducted by the Air Corps using a military drone, after radar identified a foreign vessel operating illegally in Maldivian waters. The Coast Guard Special Boat Squadron then intercepted and took the vessel into custody.

Sri Lankan authorities are expected to dispatch a team to the Maldives to assist in the investigation.