Acting on a specific intelligence received by Indian Coast Guard and Narcotics Control Bureau, a Sri Lankan fishing vessel Ravihansi was intercepted by Indian Coast Guard on 25.03.2021 in Indian waters off the coast of Vizhinjam, Kerala. The vessel was brought to Vizhinjam harbour and NCB Chennai Zonal Unit took over the custody of the boat and seized 300.323 kg of Heroin along with five AK -47 Rifles and 1000 rounds of 9mm ammunitions. A number of incriminating documents were also seized from the occupants of the vessel.

 

The heroin was found concealed inside the water tank of the vessel in 301 packets. Image of a flying horse was found on all the heroin packets, which is a usual practice of drug trafficking syndicates to brand their drugs. Further, investigations so far indicate that an unknown vessel carried the Heroin and arms consignment from Chabahar Port, Iran and handed over the same to Sri Lankan fishing boat Ravihansi in the high seas near Lakshadweep. Ravihansi was then trafficking the consignment to Sri Lanka when the Indian authorities intercepted it.

 

All the six Sri Lankan crew members namely L. Y. Nandana, HKGB Dassppriya, AHS Gunasekara, SA Senarath, T. Ranasingha and D. Nissanka present in the boat were arrested on 27.03.2021 by NCB and remanded to judicial custody.

 

The intelligence inputs and the investigations so far indicate that a Pakistan based drug trafficking network is involved in the current seizure. There have been seizures of huge quantity heroin in the Arabian Sea by both Indian as well as other enforcement agencies which are believed to have trafficked by the same network. This seizure also unveils the nexus between narcotics trafficking and extremist elements.

 

NCB acknowledges the dedicated efforts of Sh. Amit Ghawate (Zonal Director, NCB Chennai), Sh. M. Suresh Kumar (Superintendent), Sh. Ashish Kumar Ojha (Superintendent), Sh. Shaiju Varghese (Intelligence Officer),   Sh. Mathew Varghese (Intelligence Officer), Sh. Samson (Intelligence Officer), Smt.  D.  Pramila  (Intelligence  Officer),  Sh.  Shanmugam  (Intelligence  Officer)  and  other  officers associated to the case at NCB, Chennai Zonal Unit.

 

This is stated in a press release issued by Sh. Amit Ghawate (Zonal Director, NCB Chennai).

 

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