Indian agencies track huge heroin seizure off Sri Lanka
The Hindu
Officials suspect involvement of Pak-based, maritime drug traffickers
The Indian anti-drug law enforcement agencies are gathering details about the seizure of more than 600 kg of heroin and the arrest of seven Pakistani nationals by their Sri Lankan counterparts in the high seas during the past few days. A foreign vessel used for drug trafficking was also impounded. In the latest operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy, in coordination with the police and intelligence agencies there, the foreign vessel carrying the drugs and the seven accused persons was intercepted about 1,370 km south of the Sri Lankan coast on September 1 and brought to Colombo harbour on September 4. The Indian agencies suspect that the vessel, which was camouflaged as a fishing ship, had originated from Makran coast in Pakistan. Preliminary findings have suggested that the drug traffickers had started dumping the packets containing heroin into the sea on spotting the Sri Lankan security forces.