The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized approximately Nine Kgs of Gold in Gulf of Mannar, off Tamil Nadu coast. The gold bars worth ₹4.5 Crores were recovered from a fishing boat named ‘Sailor’.
The two-day joint operation took place after DRI sources received a tip-off that gold was being smuggled into India through sea route from Sri Lanka. Based on actionable intelligence provided by DRI officials, a well-coordinated operation was launched by Coast Guard Station Mandapam resulting in the apprehension of five fishermen along with the 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 apprehended boat allegedly received the contraband in Gulf of Mannar and was proceeding to Marakkayar Pattinam close to Mandapam. The seized items along with the fishermen and boat were handed over to the DRI for further investigations. Earlier in the month of March 20, in a similar operation, Indian Coast Guard has recovered 15 Kgs of gold dumped from a fishing boat at sea 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 government departments.