An illegal fishing boat has been detected using a drone from the MNDF Air Corps.

The vessel was seized during an operation in the Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and taken into custody by the MNDF Coast Guard.

Details regarding the ship or the number of crew members have not been disclosed.

The MNDF regularly intercepts ships from various countries entering the Maldivian EEZ. On 16 November 2013, a foreign fishing vessel was also seized with the assistance of a drone.

The drone was purchased by the MNDF from a Turkish company at a cost of USD 37 million (MVR 570 million) from the state budget.