New Delhi, Sep 21 (UNI) In a major drug haul, the Indian Coast Guard Ship Rajveer in a sea-air coordinated operation has seized 1160 Kgs of drug Ketamine worth Rs 300 crore from a suspicious Myanmarese vessel operating near Car Nicobar islands.

Indian Coast Guard Aircraft on routine surveillance on September 18, sighted a suspicious vessel operating in Indian Exclusive Economic Zone and not responding on VHF. The ship Rajveer was directed to intercept the vessel and carry out investigation near Car Nicobar island at 2100 hours on September 19, an Indian Coast Guard spokesperson said.

On interrogation, the boat crew revealed that they had commenced their journey from damson bay in Myanmar on September 14 for delivery of consignment in gunny bags to another boat operating near Thailand-Malaysia maritime border line on September 21.

On rummaging of the vessel on September 20, 57 Gunny Bundles of suspicious substance was found and the same was transferred to ICGS Rajveer along with other available documents onboard the vessel, the spokesperson said.

The vessel, during the passage to Port Blair, started taking in water (flooding) and Coast Guard personnel tried to pump out the water by diesel driven pump and other damage control items. However, the flooding could not be controlled and the boat sank on September 20.

ICGS Rajveer resumed her passage with six Myanmarese crews and reached Port Blair on September 21.

A joint interrogation was conducted with narcotics control bureau and local police in attendance.

In the last five years, Indian Coast Guard has apprehended narcotics and other Psychotrophic Susbstances to the tune of Rs 6000 crore excluding the current operation.

UNI ASH ADG 1831