The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Chennai): In a significant crackdown on narcotics smuggling, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Mandapam, in collaboration with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Chennai, successfully seized 99 kilograms of Hashish valued at approximately ₹108 crores. The operation took place in the early hours of March 5, 2024, targeting a country boat en route to Sri Lanka through the Gulf of Mannar.
The joint operation was initiated based on precise intelligence received by officers of the DRI Chennai Zonal Unit, indicating a smuggling attempt from India to Sri Lanka near the Mandapam sea coast. Officers from both DRI and ICG launched an extensive surveillance mission in the Gulf of Mannar. A suspicious country boat heading toward Sri Lanka was identified and intercepted after a brief pursuit.
Upon inspection, officers discovered five sacks concealed within the boat, leading to the arrest of three individuals on board. The suspects, during interrogation, confessed to receiving the narcotics from an individual in the Pamban Coastal area, with instructions to transfer them to unidentified recipients in Sri Lankan waters.
The seized sacks contained a total of 111 packets of a brown sticky substance, later confirmed to be Hashish through field testing. The substance, recognized under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, carries an international market value of around ₹108 crores. The operation led to the apprehension of four individuals for further investigation, marking a significant victory in the ongoing battle against narcotics trafficking in the region.