Maldives coup d'état attempt (Operation Cactus) (1988)
The 1988 Maldives coup d'état attempt was the attempt by a group of Maldivians led by businessman Abdullah Luthufi and assisted by armed mercenaries of a Tamil secessionist organisation from Sri Lanka, the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), to overthrow the government in the island republic of Maldives. The coup d'état failed after the Maldivian National Security Service eliminated the rebel leaders of PLOTE. At the realization of the attacks failure, the rebel group hijacked a Maldivian freighter named MV Progresslight and attempted to escape to Sri Lanka. After the rebels escaped, the Indian Navy was called for help and they intercepted and captured the mercenaries and they were brought into custody in an operation codenamed Operation Cactus.