In a significant operation, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) intercepted a country boat near the Mandapam coast in Tamil Nadu and seized approximately 99 kg of hashish. The haul, valued at an estimated Rs 108 crore, was bound for Sri Lanka.The joint operation, conducted by officials from the DRI’s Chennai zonal unit and the ICG Mandapam, unfolded following a tip-off regarding the smuggling of narcotics substances from India to Sri Lanka via the coastal route near the Mandapam sea coast. Acting swiftly, the officials initiated surveillance over the Gulf of Mannar, deploying a Coast Guard ship on the intervening night of March 4 and 5.
During the surveillance operation, officers from the DRI and the Coast Guard spotted a country boat sailing towards Sri Lanka. After a brief hot pursuit, the joint team intercepted the vessel and conducted a thorough search. Their efforts paid off when they discovered five sacks concealed inside the boat.
The sacks, upon inspection, were found to contain approximately 99 kg of hashish, a potent form of cannabis known for its psychoactive properties. The seizure, valued at a staggering Rs 108 crore, represents a significant blow to the illicit drug trade operating through maritime routes in the region.