173 kg narcotics seized in massive op off Porbandar coast, 5 detained

The ATS received the input that the three departed on the pretext of fishing on the intervening night of April 22-23 and were due to be back on April 27-28 to the Gujarat coast. According to the ATS, the accused planned to transport the contraband from the Gujarat coast to the hinterland.

A search operation, launched from Porbandar Sunday, led to the seizure of 173 kg of hashish from the possession of Mangesh Tukkaram alias Sahu and Haridas Ramnath Kulal alias Puri, hidden in the hold of the boat. Additionally, Kailash Vajinath Sanap was detained from Pune, Datta Sakharam from Dwarka and Ali Asghar Halepotra alias Arif Bidana from Mandvi in Kutch.

According to a press note issued by the ATS Monday, an FIR under relevant sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act was being registered at the ATS Police Station, Ahmedabad, even as the operation is ongoing. The Gujarat ATS alleges that preliminary investigation revealed that the accused individuals were in touch with Pakistan-based drug syndicates.

“For taking delivery of Hashish from Pakistan, Sanap, Sakharam and Tukkaram alias Sahu had come to Dwarka and Mandvi where they had come in touch with local boat owners. Unable to purchase a fishing boat in their name, they hired a boat belonging to a local from Salaya, Devbhumi Dwarka. On the night of April 22-23, in the pretence of going for fishing, Tukkaram alias Sahu and Haridas Ramnath had taken the boat and its crew to the sea after which they had overpowered and threatened the crew members and the tandel (master) was asked to take the boat to a predetermined position off Pasni, Pakistan,” the ATS highlighted in a statement, explaining the modus operandi.

“Tukkaram, the accused, was in constant contact with Sanap over Thuraya satellite phone and was acting on his instructions. In the early morning hours of April 27, they had taken the delivery of hashish along with fuel and rations from a Pakistani speed boat at a location off Pasni, Pakistan. After taking the delivery, they were on the way back to a predetermined point, off Dwarka. As per their plan, Sanap had instructed Sakharam to take a smaller boat to this location, take delivery of the contraband and transport the same to a deserted stretch of the Dwarka coast. The final receiver of the consignment, sent by Sanap, was to take the delivery of the contraband from here,” it added.