A foreign fishing vessel operating illegally within the Maldives’ Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was apprehended on Thursday by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard, following detection by a drone from the MNDF’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Army (UAV) service.

The boat was intercepted during a routine aerial surveillance operation aimed at monitoring and safeguarding the country’s extensive maritime borders. 

This is the second recent event for the MNDF in using drone technology to combat illegal activities in Maldivian waters. Last month, a foreign vessel was intercepted under similar circumstances and handed over to the Maldives Police Service.

The UAV service, launched on 15 March 2024, plays a crucial role in strengthening the Maldives’ maritime security. The drone programme is part of broader efforts to enhance monitoring of the country’s extensive maritime borders and combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.