The National Investigative Agency (NIA) has arrested a former member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from a residential area in Chennai who was involved in smuggling of drugs and weapons from Pakistan to Sri Lanka.
Earlier this year, the Indian Coast Guard had intercepted three Sri Lankan boats off Lakshadweep on India’s west coast. On March 18, a vessel named Ravihansi which carried 300kg of high-grade heroin, 5 AK-47 rifles, with 1000 live 9mm rounds from Pakistan to Sri Lanka was intercepted off Kerala coast based on intelligence inputs.
The man identified as Satkunam alias Sabesan (47) was arrested from Valasaravakkam in Chennai. He was working towards reviving the LTTE, a banned terrorist organization by raising money through trafficking arms and drugs from Pakistan.
“The Investigation has revealed that accused Satkunam alias Sabesan had arranged conspiracy meetings of LTTE sympathisers in India. He had played a crucial role in routing the proceeds of drugs trafficking to former LTTE cadres in Sri Lanka for the revival of the LTTE,” the NIA said in the statement.
NIA arrests a key conspirator in Vizhingam Arms case of Kerala pic.twitter.com/jb5QC4n6tN
— NIA India (@NIA_India) October 6, 2021
Further investigations are ongoing.
(With inputs from Wion)
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