DRI Chennai & ICG Mandapam seized 99 kg of hashish drug worth Rs.108 crore in a joint operation
New Delhi, 05 Mar 24: In its continuous hunt against smuggling of narcotics substances, Officers of DRI Chennai Zonal Unit developed specific input which indicated that a gang is planning to smuggle narcotics substances from India to Sri Lanka via coastal route near Mandapam sea coast.
Based on the said input, officers of DRI and Indian Coast Guard mounted surveillance over Gulf of Mannar through Indian Coast Guard Ship on the intervening night of 04th& 05th March 2024. During the surveillance at deep sea, officers of DRI and Indian Coast Guard identified a country boat sailing towards Sri Lanka and intercepted the same after a brief hot pursuit.
On interception, officers rummaged the boat and found 05 sacks concealed inside the boat. The country boat along with the contraband and 03 persons on board were brought to Indian Coast Guard Station Mandapam in the morning for further investigation.
Whilst interrogation, they admitted that the bags are packed with narcotic substances and they received the same from a person at Pamban Coastal area and based on his instruction they were carrying the same for further handing over to some unknown persons from Sri Lanka who will arrive at deep sea.
Based on input received during interrogation, in a swift follow-up action, officers of DRI apprehended the said person from his house. During interrogation it was unearthed that he is the main person who organised smuggling of narcotics substances from India to Sri Lanka via coastal route. Preliminary Investigation reveals that the seized drugs were transported from different parts of the country for further transportation to Sri Lanka by country boats.
On examination of found sacks, a total of 111 no. packets weighing 99 kgs in total containing brown colour sticky material was detected which on testing with field testing kit was found to be Hashish, a NDPS substance with international market value of around ₹108 crores and was seized under NDPS Act.
All 04 persons were apprehended for further investigation.
