Defence

Indian Navy seizes narcotics worth Rs 3,000 cr from a fishing vessel in the Arabian Sea

In a major action against contrabands, drugs worth 3000 cr were seized off the Kochi coast by INS Suvarna.

Indian Navy’s warship INS Suvarna seized narcotics worth Rs 3,000 crore being transported onboard a fishing vessel in the Arabian Sea. As per the latest reports, after the narcotics were seized, the crew along with its boat were escorted to the nearest port which was Kochi, Kerala.

The warship was on a regular surveillance patrol when this suspicious vessel was intercepted and searched.

The official release from the Navy stated, “Indian Naval Ship Suvarna, whilst on surveillance patrol in the Arabian Sea, encountered a fishing vessel with suspicious movements. To investigate the vessel, the ship’s team conducted a boarding and search operation, which led to the seizure of more than 300 Kilograms of narcotics substances. The approximate cost of the catch in the international market is estimated to be Rs 3000 Crore. This is a major catch not only in terms of the quantity and cost but also from the perspective of disruption of the illegal narcotics smuggling routes, which emanate from the Makran coast and flow towards the Indian, Maldivian and Sri Lankan destinations.”

Further investigations will be carried out by the relevant authorities, the vessel has been confirmed of being a foreign registered one hence indicating an international narco-smuggling angle. The Navy still has not confirmed the exact location or date of seizure of the vessel. Apart from the human addicition angle involved, such large quantites of drug in the past have been linked to financing terroism and criminal activities in the past.

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