Five fishermen held, 9 kilos of gold seized from boat off Tamil Nadu coast
Indian Coast Guard and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized nine kilograms of gold during an anti-smuggling operation in Gulf of Mannar off the coast of Tamil Nadu.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 12 Dec 2020 2:48 AM GMT
Visakhapatnam: Indian Coast Guard and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized nine kilograms of gold during an anti-smuggling operation in Gulf of Mannar off the coast of Tamil Nadu.
The gold bars worth Rs 4.5 Crores were recovered from a fishing boat 'Sailor'.
The two-day joint operation took place after DRI received a tip-off about gold being smuggled into India through sea route from Sri Lanka.
Based on actionable intelligence, a well-coordinated operation was launched by Coast Guard Station, Mandapam, resulting in the apprehension of five fishermen along with a fishing boat. During the rummaging, it was found that the seized gold bars were hidden under the engine bay camouflaged in a cloth bag.
During the investigation, it was revealed that the boat loaded the contraband in Gulf of Mannar and was proceeding to Marakkayar Pattinam close to Mandapam.
All the gold items and a boat were seized by DRI for further investigations. Fishermen too were taken into custody. Earlier on March 20, the Indian Coast Guard recovered 15 kgs of gold dumped in the sea by a fishing boat near Rameshwaram Coast.
"The Indian Coast Guard has been maintaining enhanced surveillance in the region and a number of successful anti-smuggling operations have been undertaken in the recent past in close coordination with other stakeholders," Vizag Coast Guard said in a statement.
