Maldives Seizes 356kg of Heroin and Meth from Sri Lankan Vessel in Major Maritime Operation
Malé: Maldivian authorities have seized 355.9 kilograms of suspected heroin and methamphetamine from a Sri Lankan vessel that illegally entered the country’s territorial waters last week, in what officials describe as one of the largest maritime drug busts in recent years.
According to the Maldives Police Service, the vessel — identified as Avishka Putha — was intercepted on Friday after crossing into Maldivian waters without authorization. The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) conducted the initial operation, deploying drone surveillance to detect and track the ship before transferring custody to police on Sunday.
A court-approved search of the vessel on Monday uncovered 24 bags of suspected narcotics, comprising 58.6 kilograms of heroin and 297.3 kilograms of methamphetamine, police said.
Five Sri Lankan nationals, aged 28, 34, 39, 42, and 63, were arrested in connection with the seizure. The investigation is being carried out jointly by the Maldives Police Service, MNDF, Sri Lankan Navy, and Sri Lankan Police.
The MNDF confirmed that the interception was executed by its Coast Guard Special Boat Squadron, following real-time aerial monitoring by the Air Corps UAV unit. The operation is part of the Maldives’ ongoing efforts to combat illegal maritime activity and transnational drug trafficking in the Indian Ocean.
Authorities have yet to confirm whether the suspects are linked to a broader regional trafficking network.
