Two Sri Lankan Tamils who were involved in a ₹100 crores worth international drugs smuggling case were nabbed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials in Chennai on Friday.
It was revealed that the individuals were living in Chennai by concealing their real identity.
The case is regarding a drug-laden vessel ‘Shenaya Duwa’ that was intercepted by Indian Coast Guard in late November last year, off the Thoothukudi coast in Tamil Nadu. 99 packets of heroin, 20 boxes of synthetic drugs and five 9mm pistols were unearthed from an unapproachable location on-board the vessel. A Thuraya satellite phone set was also recovered.
The preliminary investigation conducted earlier had revealed that the drugs were transferred by a Pakistani dhow from Karachi to the Sri Lankan vessel ‘Shenaya Duwa’ on the high seas. The contraband was meant to be sent to some of the western countries and Australia.
The boat belongs to one Alensu Kuttige Sinha Deeptha Sani Fernando from Negombo, a city on the west coast of Sri Lanka. During initial questioning, the Lankan crew disclosed that the drugs were transferred into their vessel on the high seas by a Pakistani dhow from Karachi. Following the seizure of contraband, the vessel’s six-member crew was also put behind bars but the search for the main conspirators continued.
This led to the arrest of the Sri Lankan nationals, MMM Nawas and Mohamed Afnas from Chennai. According to the NCB, Nawas and Afnas held important positions in the multinational Heroin syndicate, as they were controlling the mid-sea pick up and delivery of narcotic drugs from Pakistani and Iranian vessels.
It is said that both of them had fled the island nation when the Sri Lankan authorities closed in on them. It is also believed that there is an Interpol Red Corner Notice issued by Sri Lankan Government against Nawas.