• 355+ kg of ‘ice’ and heroin seized, SL team visits ahead of repatriation  

The Maldivian Police have officially confirmed that a Sri Lankan fishing vessel taken into custody by the Maldivian security forces within the country’s maritime boundary contained a large quantity of narcotics.

The vessel, which had illegally entered Maldivian waters, was intercepted on 7 November by Coast Guard officers of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). According to the Maldivian Police, the vessel – identified as a Sri Lankan fishing trawler, the ‘Avishka Putha’ – was carrying over 355 kg of illegal drugs. Five Sri Lankan fishermen aboard the vessel – aged 39, 42, 28, 34 and 63 – were also taken into custody. Under a court warrant, the trawler was subjected to a special search operation on Monday (10). During that search, the authorities reportedly discovered 58 kg and 600 g of heroin, along with 297 kg and 300 g of crystal methamphetamine (‘Ice’), concealed in 24 compartments of the vessel.

The seizure was the result of a joint investigation involving the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), the Sri Lanka Police, and the MNDF and the Maldivian Police.

This haul is being described as the largest drug seizure ever recorded within Maldivian territorial waters.

Meanwhile, on the advice of the Maldivian Attorney General, steps are being taken to transfer the arrested Sri Lankan fishermen and the seized drugs back to Sri Lanka. A special team from the Police Narcotics Bureau and the SLN has already traveled to the Maldives to commence investigations in coordination with the Maldivian authorities.