An Interpol Incident Response Team began helping the Maldives Police Service to investigate the international vessel with 70 kilograms of narcotic substances seized on October 6.
Police Commissioner Mohamed Hameed announced that with the active investigation, Interpol will help the Department of Drug Enforcement.
In addition, he said the police remained committed to dismantling drug trafficking and aimed at delivering a blow to the illicit drug industry.
The Iran-flagged boat was intercepted approximately 172 miles northwest of Thuraakunu, Haa Alifu Atoll along with local fishing vessel ‘Hedhey Kuri 7’ during a joint operation carried out by the Maldives, India and Sri Lanka security forces.
Six unidentified people were arrested on board the migrant ship while two locals and a national from Bangladesh were arrested from the Maldivian vessel. A total of 13 arrests were made in connection with the incident, including the Maldivian fishing vessel’s captain.
According to the Hindustan Times, on September 30 as the boat was on international waters, Indian security forces initially received information of a 150-kilogram shipment of heroin. They then alerted the Maldives and Sri Lanka, from when they also started monitoring the movement of the ship.
While narcotic substances worth MVR 59.2 million have been retrieved from the ship, the remaining quantity has yet to be identified.
