The foreign vessel operating illegally inside Maldivian waters. | Image courtesy of MNDF
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has identified the foreign vessel seized inside Maldivian waters as a Sri Lankan fishing boat.
MNDF’s Air Corps had intercepted a foreign fishing boat operating illegally in Maldivian territorial waters on Thursday.
MNDF said the boat was seized as part of an operation to conduct surveillance of the Maldives’ Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The boat was located using an MNDF Air Corps drone, and has since been detained by the Coast Guard.
MNDF on Sunday identified the vessel as a Sri Lankan fishing boat. The three member crew along with the vessel have now been handed over to the Maldives Police Service (MPS), MNDF added.
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