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Captured Sri Lanka boat in police custody, says Maldives coastguard

The Sri Lanka boat captured in Maldivian waters last week is now police custody, coastguard revealed Tuesday.

The vessel named 'Oshadi 1' was captured fishing illegally off the coast of Gaaf Dhaal Gadhdhoo island last Wednesday.

Speaking during a press conference coastguard commander brigadier general Ali Zuhair said there was nothing to indicate that the vessel had entered Maldivian waters for any purpose other than fishing adding that there had not been resistance from the crew when the coastguard had seized the boat.

"We found fishing equipment and around a tonne of fish on board the vessel. So we have no reason to believe that the boat had entered Maldivian waters for any purpose other than fishing," Zuhair said.

Zuhair said the vessel was now in police custody for investigation.