A number of large packets suspected to be drugs have washed ashore at Haa Alif Atoll Uligamu island from what is believed to be from the vessel that ran aground a nearby reef on Thursday.
The crew set fire and jumped overboard in a bid to escape after their boat ran aground on the Innafinolhu reef in Haa Alif Atoll early Thursday.
The boat now identified as an Iranian vessel had been spotted by local fishermen who had notified the coastguard. However, as the coastguard vessel approached, the crew had reportedly set the boat on fire and jumped over board to escape.
The eight crew had been picked up by the coastguard and have now been handed over to the police.
Uligamu island councilor Imad Abdulla told AVAS that large packets have been washing since Thursday while police have been called in.
Police confirmed that the vessel may have been carrying drugs and were looking inside the part of the boat that had not been damaged in the fire.
