Initial investigation revealed that the contraband was transferred to the Sri Lankan boat from a Pakistani dhow from Karachi.
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Vaibhav has seized a Sri Lankan boat along with 100 kg heroin sourced from Pakistan along with 20 small packets of synthetic drugs in an operation on the high seas off Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu.
The Indian Coast Guard issued a statement in which it said it has arrested six crew members in this connection and also seized five pistols from the accused.
Initial investigation revealed that the contraband was transferred to the Sri Lankan boat from a Pakistani dhow from Karachi.
According to the Coast Guard, they had received credible intelligence from the agencies on narcotics smuggling by Anti-National Elements. Since November 17, ICG ships and two aircraft had been carrying out extensive air-sea coordinated searches for the suspected boat in the most probable area as per the intelligence input.
The search operation at sea yielded results on Wednesday, November 24, when the boat was identified south of Tuticorin, after which ICGS Vaibhav stealthily followed the boat and carried out boarding operations at the opportune moment, while located about 10 NM off Kanyakumari.
99 packets of heroin, 20 boxes of synthetic drugs, and five 9mm pistols were unearthed from an unapproachable location on-board, besides a Thuraya satellite phone set.
Preliminary investigation of the crew has revealed that the drugs were transferred onto their Sri Lankan vessel ‘Shenaya Duwa’ on the high seas by a Pakistani dhow from Karachi and the contraband was meant to be sent to western countries and Australia.
Personnel deployed on Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship Vaibhav seized the Sri Lankan boat along with the contraband during anti-smuggling operations that began on November 17.
"Joint interrogation of the arrested accused by all security agencies concerned is in progress," the Coast Guard said in a statement.
ICG ships Vaibhav, Vikram, Samar, Abhivav, and Aadesh, and a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft are involved in anti-smuggling operations, despite rough sea conditions.
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