The police service has said they are now investigating the pirate vessels captured in the Maldives region.

Defense Minister Adam Shareef has confirmed that the two foreign fishing boats reportedly captured in the Maldives region were pirate vessels.

The Defense Minister praised the military for capturing the vessels, which he said were infamous in foreign countries for their piracy.

The two captured vessels, which had the Somalian flag, have now been taken to Male’.

One of the vessels was discovered 76.5 nautical miles off Hirilandhoo in Thaa Atoll, with 10 crew members in total.

The other was found in the waters off of Maamigilli of Alif Dhaal Atoll, with 12 crew members.

The defence force reported that the crew were mainly Thailand nationals, and that the vessels also had over 400 tonnes of fish onboard.