New Delhi, 29 November (HS): Nine people have been arrested after 500 kg of drugs were seized from two Sri Lankan fishing boats in the Arabian Sea. The seizure was carried out in a joint operation between the Indian and Sri Lankan navies. Both the boats along with the crew and seized drugs have been handed over to the Sri Lankan authorities for further legal action.

Indian Navy's Gurugram-based Information Fusion Center (Indian Ocean Region) received information from the Sri Lankan Navy about the smuggling of narcotics by two Sri Lankan-flagged fishing boats in the Arabian Sea. This input was extensively monitored by the Indian Navy's long-range maritime patrol aircraft and remotely piloted aircraft. A ship from the Indian Navy was also deployed to augment the surveillance efforts.

Based on information about drug trafficking, the Indian Navy responded quickly through a coordinated operation to intercept the two boats. Based on continuous information from the Sri Lankan Navy and aerial surveillance by Indian Navy aircraft. On 24 and 25 November two names were identified. An additional ship of the Indian Navy was also deployed to conduct anti-narcotics operations.

The crews of both boats were then alerted between ship and air assets, whereupon all members surrendered by raising their hands. In a coordinated operation by the Indian and Sri Lankan navies, the ship's boarding team boarded both boats and seized around 500 kilograms of narcotics (crystal meth). Both the boats along with the seized drugs have been handed over to the Sri Lankan authorities for further legal action.

Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar