Maldives Police Service (MPS) has revealed a total of 70 kilograms of drugs, worth nearly USD 4 million, were found on the foreign boat captured in a joint operation with Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
The Iranian flagged boat was intercepted 172 nautical miles from the northern tip of Maldives. MNDF said it received information from Indian Coast Guard regarding the vessel bearing an Iranian flag on October 1. The operation was conducted by Maldivian Coast Guard, and Drug Enforcement Department and Drug Intelligence Department of Maldives Police Service, with the support from Indian Coast Guard and Sri Lankan Coast Guard.
Citing officials aware of the development, Indian media outlets report it is the fifth haul of drugs shipped from Pakistan through the sea that has been recovered over the last three months. In this regard, the Sri Lankan Coast Guard seized 140 kilograms of heroin from a vessel registered in Iran last July in a similar coordinated operation.
In the latest case, Indian security agencies detected the boat on September 30 about 500 nautical miles off the Kochi coast. In addition to Indian Coast Guard, it has been reported that Sri Lankan and Maldivian Coast Guards were also alerted and deployed to intercept the vessel in coordination with their Indian counterparts, according to officials that spoke to Indian media.
The boat was seized in Maldivian waters on October 5. It was not immediately clear where the boat was heading. However, there were 6 undocumented crew members on board the boat, according to MPS.
Although it was initially reported by Indian media that the boat was travelling from Pakistan and was carrying 150 kilograms of heroin, MPS said the vessel has been thoroughly searched and its officers has confiscated 70 kilograms of drugs.
MNDF and MPS also detained a Maldivian fishing vessel from the area with 2 Maldivians and 2 Bangladeshis on board. MPS said it has received an intelligence report that the fishing vessel was travelling to pick the drug packages from the Iranian flagged boat. The two vessels has now been brought to Dhoonidhoo, Kaafu Atoll by the Maldivian security forces.
Furthermore, another 3 Maldivians related to the drug network were arrested, according to MPS. They, along with the 2 Maldivians on the fishing vessel were remanded for 15 days, while the 2 Bangladeshis were remanded for 10 days. MPS also said the six undocumented foreigners on the boat were remanded for 15 days.