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India holds one Lankan ‘narcotic boat’, frees two

12 Mar 2021

Two of the three Sri Lankan boats seized by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Ship “Varaha” off Kerala’s Vizhinjam Coast, on suspicion of carrying narcotics, have been released, The Morning learnt. Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Douglas Devananda told The Morning that two out of the three boats, holding 12 fishermen, had arrived at the Dikkowita Fisheries Harbour, and had commenced unloading the fish catch. “The 12 fishermen might have to undergo polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests,” he said. Devananda further said that the ICG had seized three Sri Lankan fishing boats for carrying narcotics onboard. However, after the investigations, they found that only one boat had carried narcotics. Further interrogations will proceed with six other fishermen in the boat that was seized with the narcotics, Devananda said. Sri Lanka is in dialogue with the Indian High Commission to get these fishermen released, he further added. The Indian High Commissioner began a tour of the North of Sri Lanka recently and it is learnt that he is to meet Devananda during his visit. Meanwhile, Hindustan Times had reported that 200 kg of cocaine, 60 kg of hashish, and some equipment were seized from the boats registered in Sri Lanka. According to the initial reports, large quantities of drugs were dumped into the sea when the Coast Guard had encircled the three boats. The boats carried 19 persons and seven of them had jumped into the sea and a search was on with the help of local fishermen to locate them, Hindustan Times had reported, adding that officials of the Intelligence Bureau and other central agencies will also question the detained fishermen who are suspected to be members of a global drug racket. According to a statement issued by the Indian Defence Spokesperson, the boats were sighted by the ICG in the Indian territorial waters at around 9 a.m. on 5 March, while patrolling near the Lakshadweep Islands. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the boats were using unauthorised communication equipment and were carrying narcotics onboard. It is said that the boats have been identified as “Akarsha Duwa”, “Chathu Rani Three”, and “Chathu Rani Eight”. “Akarsha Duwa” and “Chathu Rani Three” had six crew members each onboard, while “Chathu Rani Eight” had seven crew members onboard. The boats were brought to the Vizhinjam Harbour for a search and detailed joint interrogation by all the security agencies concerned. The crew of “Akarsha Duwa” confessed that they had received around 200 kg of heroin and 60 kg of hashish from a Pakistani boat 400 nautical miles west of the Lakshadweep Islands.


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