The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Coastal Security Group obtains list of smugglers from Customs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 08, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Coastal Security Group obtains list of smugglers from Customs

K.T. Sangameswaran

The exercise was part of the preventive measures initiated by the police

CHENNAI: The Coastal Security Group of the State police has obtained a list of persons, who were allegedly involved in smuggling on the Rameswaram and Tuticorin coast, in the past.

The list, collected from the Customs department, has around 50 names, a senior police officer said. The exercise was part of the preventive measures initiated by the police in the wake of attempts to smuggle explosives' components to Sri Lanka.

One of the four arrested in the case relating to seizure of 30 bags of explosive substances near Manamadurai in Sivaganga district on November 29 last year had a background of smuggling.

Similarly, one of the five persons who were travelling in a mechanised boat intercepted by the Coast Guard last month, had earlier been arrested in connection with a case registered by the Ramanathapuram Town police in 2002, for attempting to smuggle material to the LTTE.

The shallow waters and islands between Mandapam, near Rameswaram, and Tharuvaikulam in Tuticorin district was a haven for smugglers who could land and leave as and when they liked, the officer said.

Surveillance stepped up

Taking this into consideration, the police had stepped up their surveillance.

Sea patrolling

Using a hired boat, sea patrolling was being conducted from Keezhakarai to Sayalkudi.

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