The Maldivian police have officially confirmed the seizure of a Sri Lankan fishing vessel carrying a massive haul of illegal narcotics within the Maldives’ maritime territory.
The vessel, identified as “Avishka Putha”, was intercepted on November 7 by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard after it illegally entered Maldivian waters.
According to police reports, the trawler was found to be transporting over 355 kilograms of illicit drugs, marking the largest drug seizure ever recorded in the Maldives.
Authorities detained five Sri Lankan fishermen, aged 28, 34, 39, 42, and 63, who were on board the vessel. The Maldivian Police Service said further investigations are underway in coordination with Sri Lankan law enforcement agencies.
A court-authorized search conducted yesterday uncovered 58.6 kilograms of heroin and 297.3 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (commonly known as ‘Ice’). The drugs were hidden inside 24 concealed compartments of the vessel.
The successful operation was the result of a joint investigation between the Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Police, the Maldives National Defence Force, and the Maldivian Police.
Following legal consultation with the Attorney General’s Office of Maldives, steps are now being taken to transfer the detained Sri Lankan fishermen and the seized narcotics to Sri Lanka for further legal proceedings.
A special team from Sri Lanka’s Police Cs Bureau (PNB) and the Navy has already traveled to the Maldives to assist with the investigation and coordinate with Maldivian authorities.
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