Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) has confirmed officials are are inspecting four fishing boats that had 'trespassed' into the Maldivian border.
MNDF reports the fishing vessels were at first sighted out of Kolamaafushi region and were detained on sea by local fishermen who happened across the area at the time. Shortly after local Coast Guard traveled on site and have brought the vessels and crews on it into an apparent custody.
An eyewitness, a local fisherman said the boats were traveling in formation with one of the vessels in tow due to engine malfunction. The crew members of the vessels had initially refused to take heed of instructions to stop by locals.
Following their insubordination the local fishing vessels traveled ahead of the foreign vessels' ranks and barricaded them from trekking further into Maldivian territory by boarding them.
