Sri Lanka, Nov. 11 -- The Maldivian police have officially confirmed that a Sri Lankan fishing vessel taken into custody by Maldivian security forces within the country's maritime boundary contained a large quantity of narcotics.

The vessel, which had illegally entered Maldivian waters, was intercepted on November 7 by coast guard officers of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

According to Maldivian police, the vessel - identified as the "Avishka Putha", a Sri Lankan fishing trawler - was carrying over 355 kilograms of illegal drugs.

Five Sri Lankan fishermen aboard the vessel were also taken into custody, the police stated.

Further investigations are being carried out by the Maldivian police, and under a court warrant, the t...