Foreign fishing vessel caught illegally entering Maldives

The Coast Guard has intercepted a foreign fishing vessel suspected of operating illegally within the Special Economic Zone of the Maldives.

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) stated that the vessel, intercepted in the Maldives' Special Economic Zone east of K. Dhiffushi, had 6 people from neighboring Sri Lanka onboard. However, MNDF did not specify which country the vessel belongs to.

Although the vessel was taken under Coast Guard custody last night, it has now been handed over to the Maldives Police Service to proceed in accordance with the law.

Vessels from neighboring countries have previously been intercepted and fined while attempting to fish in Maldivian waters. In some cases, the vessels have also been confiscated by the state.