NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, DEC 18
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully intercepted a significant consignment of marijuana weighing over 20 kilograms on Wednesday. The bust occurred near Tamil Nadu’s Mandapam area, says a Defence release.
This operation was triggered by reliable international intelligence, indicating potential drug trafficking activities along the region’s maritime boundaries.
“Swiftly reacting to international input about drug trafficking from local agencies, the Indian Coast Guard, Mandapam launched ICG Hovercraft for anti-narco ops on Indo-SL IMBL (International Maritime Boundary Line),” the statement read.
Utilizing an Air Cushion Vehicle, the Coast Guard discovered ten abandoned packets of marijuana on an island close to the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). The contraband has since been handed over to the Customs Department in Rameshwaram for further investigation and action.
Earlier, four foreigners aboard a boat, found approximately 46 nautical miles off the Tamil Nadu coast, were detained as part of the same operation.
The operation was executed with precise sea-air coordination. Initial reports of the suspect boat came from a local fishing vessel and were communicated to an Indian Coast Guard Dornier aircraft. Subsequently, two Coast Guard ships apprehended the suspects on December 6, transferring custody to the Coastal Security Group of Tamil Nadu Police for further proceedings, says Defence PRO Chennai release.
