Kulhudhuffushi Magistrate's Court has ordered a 30-day judicial custody for five Sri Lankan nationals arrested after their fishing vessel was seized in Maldivian waters with a significant quantity of drugs.

The men were detained in a collaborative operation involving the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and the Maldives Police Service (MPS).

The suspects were apprehended off Makunudhoo during a routine Coast Guard patrol on Saturday. Their vessel, operating illegally within Maldivian territorial waters, was intercepted and brought to Kulhudhuffushi City port for inspection.

 During the search, authorities discovered 468.6 kilograms of narcotics, comprising 344 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 124.6 kilograms of cocaine.

Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau hailed the operation as a significant step in combating drug trafficking, crediting the successful interception to effective inter-agency collaboration.

This case underscores the Maldives’ strategic position as a potential transit hub for narcotics trafficking in the Indian Ocean. Authorities have increased vigilance in monitoring illegal activities in its waters to curtail such operations.