Five Sri Lankan Nationals Remanded Over Major Drug Seizure in Maldivian Waters
Criminal Court Orders Remand of Drug Suspects | Photo: MNDF
The Criminal Court has ordered the remand of five Sri Lankan nationals arrested aboard a vessel carrying a substantial quantity of suspected narcotics.
The suspects, aged 28, 34, 39, 42, and 63, will remain in custody pending trial. They were detained following the interception of the vessel Avishka Putha by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard Special Boat Squadron on 7 November. The vessel had entered Maldivian waters without authorisation and was tracked through drone surveillance before being handed over to the Maldives Police Service on Sunday.
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A court-authorised search of the vessel on Monday uncovered 24 sacks containing a total of 355.9 kilogrammes of suspected narcotics. The haul included 58.6 kilogrammes of suspected heroin and 297.3 kilogrammes of suspected methamphetamine.
The Criminal Court described the case as part of a large-scale organised crime operation, though authorities have not yet confirmed any links between the suspects and a wider trafficking network.
The investigation is being carried out jointly by the Maldives Police Service, MNDF, Sri Lankan Navy, and Sri Lankan Police as part of ongoing collaborative efforts to curb illegal maritime activity and transnational drug trafficking in the region.
