Sri Lankan media outlets have reported that efforts are underway to hand over to Sri Lanka the drug vessel that was intercepted in Maldivian waters last week.

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) stated on the seventh of this month that the vessel was discovered during a surveillance operation conducted by the MNDF's Air Wing, utilising Air Corps drones, after an unregistered foreign vessel was observed operating illegally within Maldivian maritime territory. However, MNDF did not disclose any further information pertaining to the vessel.

According to reports from Sri Lankan media on the eighth of this month, the vessel intercepted by the MNDF was transporting 300 kilograms of heroin and 'ice' (crystal methamphetamine). It was also reported that six Sri Lankan fishermen on board the vessel were taken into MNDF custody.

Subsequently, in a press statement released by the police on the night of the 11th of this month, it was stated that the illicit drugs were found on a fishing vessel named "Avishka Putha." The statement further detailed that when the vessel was searched under a court order, 24 sacks were discovered, with a preliminary estimated weight of 355.9 kilograms. The police statement specified that these sacks contained 58.6 kilograms of suspected heroin and 297.3 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine.

The police reported that there were five Sri Lankan men on board the vessel, aged 28, 34, 39, 42, and 63 years old, and all of them were arrested last Monday.

All individuals have been remanded in custody until the conclusion of their trials.

Sri Lankan media reported yesterday that the necessary procedures are currently being undertaken to hand over the vessel from which the drugs were found to Sri Lanka. However, no further details regarding this process were reported by the news outlets.

Citing Ananda Wijepala, Sri Lanka's Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Sri Lankan media reported on the ninth of this month that officers from both the Sri Lankan Police and Navy are actively assisting in the investigation of this case in the Maldives.

Ananda Wijepala was also reported to have stated that efforts are being made to facilitate the repatriation of the Sri Lankan citizens who were on board the vessel back to Sri Lanka.