Foreign soldiers reportedly storm Maldives’ fishing boat

Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) says it is investigating reports that foreign soldiers stormed a local fishing boat in the Maldivian territorial waters.

According to the MNDF, it was reported that the fishing boat was inside the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone (EEEZ) when a boarding team from a foreign military ship stormed the boat.

A Coast Guard ship is currently travelling to the location, said the MNDF, in a statement on late Wednesday afternoon.

Before the MNDF issued its statement, the Bodu Kanneli Masveringe Union (BKMU) reported that an Indian navy ship had stopped and stormed ‘Asurumas-3’ – a fishing boat from ADh. Mahibadhoo.

ރާއްޖޭގެ ކަނޑުގެ ސަރަހަްދުގައި މަސްވެރިކަން ކުރަމުންދިޔަ އ.ދ މަހިބަދޫ އަސުރުމާ3 ދޯންޏަށް މިވަގުތު އިންޑިއާގެ މަނަވަރެއް ކައިރިކޮށް ދޯންޏަށް ސިފައިން އަރައިފިކަމަށް މައުލޫމާތު ލިބިއްޖެ.މިކަން އެއްމެ ހަރުކަށި އިބާރާތުން ކުށްވެރިކުރަން!މިކަން ބަލައިދެއްވާ! @MFORmv @MNDF_mv pic.twitter.com/bStJ9EtEwC

— Bodu Kanneli Masveringe union- BKMU (@FishermensUnion) January 31, 2024

The images shared by the union shows the boat was north east of Kulhudhuffushi City when the incident took place.