By IANS,
Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu) : Heroin worth Rs.3.5 crore (Rs.35 million) in the international market, bound for the Maldives, was allegedly seized from three people from this southern tip of India, the police said Sunday evening.
“We were watching the coast on the basis of a tip off that narcotic substances were being smuggled from Nagappattinam and intercepted a three-wheeler moving suspiciously and found the contraband bound for Maldives in the early hours today (Sunday),” Deputy Inspector General of Police Davidson Asirvadam told IANS.
“The three suspects – N. Das (23), M. Raj (28) and R. Velu (30) – are being questioned for probable terrorist links and overseas connections. The vehicle has been impounded,” Asirvadam said.
Officials of the Narcotics’ Intelligence Bureau (NIB) said they were on the lookout for drugs smuggling operations following alerts from the central government to curb terrorist activity financed by the illegal trade.
Situated some 650 km south of state capital Chennai, Kanyakumari is the Cape where the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea confluence.
Frequented by international local and foreign tourists for its scenic beach and nearness to the international airport in Thiruvananthapuram, neighbouring Kerala’s capital city, this small town is watched for the illegal trade, according to NIB sources.