Rs 3,000 crore plus drugs seized by Coast Guard off Minicoy Island

In a major intelligence-based operation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has seized narcotics to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore off the Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea.

On 15 March, the ICG received intelligence input regarding a suspicious boat of foreign origin likely to be engaged in drug trafficking in Arabian Sea.

On receipt and corroboration of input, a swift air-sea coordinated operation by Coast Guard was launched immediately to detect the suspicious boats.

The Coast Guard ships and aircraft conducted extensive search in the area off the Lakshadweep area.

On 18 March, patrolling units detected three suspicious boats off Minicoy Islands and intercepted them.

Post boarding, interrogation of the crew revealed inconsistent statements.

“On rummaging of boats, high grade 300 kgs Heroin and 5 AK-47 rifles with 1,000 live rounds were recovered from Sri Lankan fishing boat Ravihansi. The estimated value of narcotics in the international market is approx Rs 3000 crore,” according to a statement issued here by Mumbai-headquartered Coast Guard Western Region.

All the three boats along with 19 crew escorted to Vizhinjam, Kerala for further joint investigation.

This is the second major anti-drug trafficking operation undertaken by ICG on the west coast of India within a fortnight.

On 5 March, ICG ships and aircraft, in a coordinated operation in Lakshadweep seas, had successfully apprehended Sri Lankan boat Akarsha Duwa with 6-member crew off Minicoy Island. The crew had admitted to carrying 200 kg high grade Heroin and 60 kg Hashish which was jettisoned at sea on sighting of ICG ships on patrol.

In a similar operation in Nov 2020, ICG had apprehended Sri Lankan boat Shenaya Duwa off Kanyakumari, carrying 120 kg narcotics worth approx Rs. 1000 cr and five weapons.

“The past one year has proved to be a big setback for drug traffickers at sea as ICG has successfully seized about 1.6 tons of narcotics worth approx Rs. 4900 crore. The total drug haul done by ICG since inception amounts to Rs. 10,952 crore,” the statement said.