NAVI MUMBAI: Over 250 kg hashish has been seized by the customs department from seven different beaches in Ratnagiri district. These contraband items were swept ashore between August 14 and August 17 in different plastic packets.
The items have been seized from Karde, Ladghar, Kelshi, Kolthare, Murud, Burondi, Dabhol and Borya beaches.
Customs officials suspect that these Afghanistan and Pakistan origin items had either fallen or had been dumped from foreign vessels for the purpose of smuggling narcotics.
The shore guards of Dapoli customs division in Ratnagiri during patrolling on the eve of Independence Day had found 10 suspicious packages (collectively weighing about 12 kg) in moist condition at Karde beach. After testing, it was confirmed to be hashish (charas). An intensive search operation was conducted between Kelshi and Borya areas.
On August 15, about 35 kg hashish was found between Karde and Ladghar beaches. On August 16, about 25 kg was recovered from Kelshi beach and 13 kg from Kolthare beach. On August 17, over 14 kg was found from Murud, 101 kg between Burondi and Dabhol creek while 22 kg from Borya. More quantity of charas was found from the Kolthare beach rock surface area later.
Confirming the same, Dapoli customs division assistant commissioner Shrikant Kudalkar, said, “Our search operation is underway. However, we appeal to the local people residing along the seacoast to contact us if they find any such bags. Illegal possession of any narcotic substances will lead to 10 years of imprisonment under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, Act-1985.”
In 2022, at least 59 coffee packets suspected to contain charas were recovered after they were washed ashore in Porbandar and Junagadh districts in coastal Gujarat. Each packet weighed about one kg.The coffee packets containing the suspected contraband were recovered from Mangrol in Junagadh and Madhavpur in Porbandar. Similarly, in 2019, the Border Security Force (BSF) recovered two packets of drugs washed ashore in the creek area of Kutch district in Gujarat. These two packets weighed about two kgs, officials said According to BSF officials, these two drug packets were “remnants” of a larger contraband that were thrown into the sea by a Pakistani crew when Indian Coast Guard chased and boarded a drug-laden Pakistani vessel “Al Madina” off the Jakhau coast in Gujarat in May 2019.
The items have been seized from Karde, Ladghar, Kelshi, Kolthare, Murud, Burondi, Dabhol and Borya beaches.
Customs officials suspect that these Afghanistan and Pakistan origin items had either fallen or had been dumped from foreign vessels for the purpose of smuggling narcotics.
The shore guards of Dapoli customs division in Ratnagiri during patrolling on the eve of Independence Day had found 10 suspicious packages (collectively weighing about 12 kg) in moist condition at Karde beach. After testing, it was confirmed to be hashish (charas). An intensive search operation was conducted between Kelshi and Borya areas.
On August 15, about 35 kg hashish was found between Karde and Ladghar beaches. On August 16, about 25 kg was recovered from Kelshi beach and 13 kg from Kolthare beach. On August 17, over 14 kg was found from Murud, 101 kg between Burondi and Dabhol creek while 22 kg from Borya. More quantity of charas was found from the Kolthare beach rock surface area later.
Confirming the same, Dapoli customs division assistant commissioner Shrikant Kudalkar, said, “Our search operation is underway. However, we appeal to the local people residing along the seacoast to contact us if they find any such bags. Illegal possession of any narcotic substances will lead to 10 years of imprisonment under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, Act-1985.”
In 2022, at least 59 coffee packets suspected to contain charas were recovered after they were washed ashore in Porbandar and Junagadh districts in coastal Gujarat. Each packet weighed about one kg.The coffee packets containing the suspected contraband were recovered from Mangrol in Junagadh and Madhavpur in Porbandar. Similarly, in 2019, the Border Security Force (BSF) recovered two packets of drugs washed ashore in the creek area of Kutch district in Gujarat. These two packets weighed about two kgs, officials said According to BSF officials, these two drug packets were “remnants” of a larger contraband that were thrown into the sea by a Pakistani crew when Indian Coast Guard chased and boarded a drug-laden Pakistani vessel “Al Madina” off the Jakhau coast in Gujarat in May 2019.
