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Move to prevent Indian fishermen crossing IMBL :
T’Nadu steps up security to check smuggling
Tamil Nadu has intensified security along its entire coastal belt
based following intelligence reports of increased smuggling between
India and Sri Lanka. It is also aimed at preventing Indian fishermen
from crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) between
the two nations.
 As an initial step to curb enhanced smuggling, 30 more marine police
stations are being set up in Tamil Nadu to bring the state’s entire
coastal belt under close vigil, a top police official in the State said.
The State already has the specialised Q Branch, which investigates
infiltrations into Tamil Nadu by suspected LTTE cadres from Sri Lanka.
Steps are also being taken to modernise the police force in Tamil
Nadu, Additional Director General of Tamil Nadu Marine Police Shylendra
Babu told reporters in Rameswaram, PTI reported.
Babu who had been visiting the coastal areas said marine police
stations would play a key role in preventing fishermen from crossing the
IMBL and stop smuggling between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.
He said fishermen in distress could call the Marine police helpline
No. 1093 and assured immediate help.
An example of the activities expected to be curbed by the enhanced
police presence was reported from Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu on Friday.
Some 16-kg of cannabis was seized and four persons, including a Sri
Lankan national were arrested in this connection, TN police said.
The four were found possessing narcotics and trying to smuggle it to
Sri Lanka from Velankanni.
The four arrested have been identified as Dinson (30), Sudarsan (33)
and Devaroopan (24) (all three are Sri Lankan Tamil refugees) and Anton
(34), a Lankan National.
The Q branch of Tamil Nadu police, which deals with extremist
activities, seized the packets of ganja and handed them over to the
Narcotics Intelligence of TN police.
Five persons, including a person of Sri Lankan origin, were arrested
and 6.6 kg heroin worth Rs. 100 million (Sri Lankan rupees) in the
international market seized from them, Directorate of Revenue
Intelligence of India officials said yesterday.
The seizure was made when DRI officials checked the bags of four
persons, including two women from Bhopal, who arrived at the Central
railway station by the Tamil Nadu Express yesterday.
“Each bag had a false bottom in which about 1.6 kg heroin was found
concealed in a polythene bag,” a DRI release said. DRI officials
identified and intercepted the kingpin, a person of Sri Lankan origin,
who had come to receive the drug.
The total weight of the seized heroin was about 6.6 kg, the release
said. In related searches, packing materials used for the onward
movement of the drug, the car used by the Sri Lankan national and Rs.
4.3 lakh in cash were also seized, it said.
The arrested have been remanded to judicial custody, the release
said, adding the value of the seized heroin is around Rs. 100 (Sri
Lankan rupees) in the international market.
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