COLOMBO, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka has dispatched two teams to the Maldives to coordinate with law enforcement authorities there following the arrest of a Sri Lankan fishing vessel carrying 300 kilograms of narcotics, a senior minister said on Sunday.

Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala told reporters that both police and navy officers have been sent to assist Maldivian authorities with the investigation.

He said the government is also discussing whether the detained Sri Lankan crew members can be extradited. According to the minister, Sri Lanka is strengthening cooperation with neighboring countries to counter transnational drug trafficking networks.

PSM News, the state media of the Maldives, reported that the vessel was intercepted by the Maldives National Defence Force during an air surveillance operation on Friday. ■