Lankans among 3 held for bid to smuggle ganja

Three persons, including two Sri Lankan nationals, have been arrested in India on the charge of attempting to smuggle ganja worth 14.4 million Indian rupees to the island nation from Ramanathapuram district, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, police arrested Sudharsan K Nicholson and Suresh of Talaimannar and Colombo respectively at Thangachimadam near Rameswaram and recovered 72 bundles of the narcotic substance weighing over 140 kg from nearby Yanaipar Island, where they had kept it for onward transportation to Sri Lanka.

The recovery was made in co-ordination with forest staff after a discreet investigation ordered by Superintendent of Police N M Mayilvahanan based on specific information that ganja was being smuggled to Sri Lanka from Thangachimadam.

Based on information provided by the duo, Police arrested one Jakka Mukka Ahamed of Erwadi in the district, who had allegedly supplied the contraband worth about 14.4 million Indian rupees in the illegal market, police said.

Foiling another smuggling bid in the district, Coastal Marine Group police seized 25 kg of sea horse and 15 kg of sea cucumber, whose trade has been banned, and arrested one Ahamed Khan at nearby Tirupalaikudi for hoarding the same enroute to Sri Lanka, they said. - PTI