In their relentless effort to combat narcotics trafficking, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Mandapam, in collaboration with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Chennai, intercepted a country boat sailing towards Sri Lanka in the Gulf of Mannar on March 5, 2024, seizing 99 kgs of Hashish worth Rs 108 crores.
Specific intelligence gathered by officers of the DRI Chennai Zonal Unit indicated a planned narcotics smuggling operation from India to Sri Lanka along the coastal route near Mandapam. Acting on this intelligence, DRI and Indian Coast Guard officers conducted surveillance over the Gulf of Mannar aboard an Indian Coast Guard Ship on the nights of March 4th and 5th, 2024.
During the surveillance mission at sea, DRI and Indian Coast Guard officers identified a country boat en route to Sri Lanka and pursued it, eventually intercepting it after a brief chase. Upon boarding the vessel, officers discovered five concealed sacks containing contraband.
The intercepted country boat, along with the illicit cargo and three individuals onboard, was brought to the Indian Coast Guard Station Mandapam for further investigation. During questioning, the individuals revealed that the narcotic substances were received from someone in the Pamban Coastal area and were being transported as per instructions to unknown recipients in Sri Lanka.
Examination of the seized sacks revealed a total of 111 packets weighing 99 kgs, containing a sticky brown substance, confirmed to be Hashish after testing with a field testing kit. This illegal substance, valued at approximately ₹108 crores in the international market, was seized under the NDPS Act. All four individuals involved were detained for further interrogation.
