The Indian Coast Guard has seized drugs, including 100kg of heroin, from a Sri Lankan boat in the high seas south of Thoothukudi during a nine-day operation that started on November 17, officials familiar with the development said on Wednesday.
Six crew members, who identified themselves as Sri Lankan nationals, have been detained and are being interrogated.
During their initial questioning, the crew members told Coast Guard officials that the drugs were transferred onto the Sri Lankan vessel “Shenaya Duwa” on the high seas by a Pakistani dhow from Karachi. The drugs were meant to be sent to western countries and Australia.
Coast Guard officials had found 99 packets of heroin, 20 small boxes of synthetic drugs, five 9mm pistols and a Thuraya satellite phone set,” a second official associated with the operation said. The drugs had been hidden in an empty fuel tank on board.
According to the crew members, the boat is from Negombo, a city on the west coast of Sri Lanka.
The six were taken to the port of Thoothukudi, earlier known as Tuticorin, where they are being interrogated by a multi-agency team of officials. (Hindustan Times)