5 foreign fishing boats captured in Maldivian waters

Maldivian authorities on Thursday captured five foreign boats fishing illegally in the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone.

Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) said the fishing boats were sighted by the Coastguard ship Huravee during patrol.

The boats were found to the east of V. Atoll, 30 nautical miles inside the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone.

The boats have been captured and are now under the custody of Huravee.

The number of fishermen on board and their nationality is unclear at this point.