The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard has captured two Sri Lankan fishing boats in Maldivian territory.

The boats were seized in a surveillance operation conducted by the Coast Guard and Air Corp at 2:02 pm on Sunday (February 1).

The boats were spotted 109 nautical miles off Haa Alif Kelaa. The two boats will be handed over to the police at Kulhudhuffushi port.

Sri Lankan fishing boats in the Maldives' Special Economic Zone are occasionally seized by the MNDF. Some of the ships carry illegal narcotics.