Four Lankan fishermen among seven held for smuggling narcotics

Seven persons – four Sri Lankan fishermen and three from Tamil Nadu – were arrested by the sleuths of Customs Preventive Division in Thoothukudi in connection with narcotics smuggling, sources said.  Based on a tip-off, the Customs sleuths conducted the operation and seized six kg of narcotic substances, valued at around Rs. 6 crore, and a boat. The contraband was concealed in a gunny bag, The Hindu reported. The three persons from Thoothukudi – Ashok Kumar of Keela Mudiman in Ottapidaram taluk, who was doing M.Phil in a college, Rex, a football coach, and Santhiyagu – were allegedly transporting heroin and methaqualone in a boat from Threspuram. During questioning, the officials came to know that Rex was the kingpin of the gang, the sources said. Caught in the sea They were nabbed on Monday evening while delivering the narcotics to the four Sri Lankan fishermen near Vaippar coast. The officials said the Sri Lankan fishermen were not cooperating during the inquiry. The seized substances might be sent to a laboratory in Chennai for classification. Both the substances were prohibited under The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and peddling them was a punishable offence, sources said. Officials were investigating whether any organised crime network was involved in the narcotics smuggling, they added.