The Indian Navy, along with the Marine Police and Customs Department, has arrested three Sri Lankan fishermen smuggling 3.5 kg of gold worth Rs 1.48 crore (37 million Sri Lankan rupees) and seized the stock of gold.
The fishermen were found trespassing into Indian waters near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) by a patrol helicopter of the Indian Navy on Saturday.
The contraband was to be handed over to four Indian fishermen from Thangachimadam in Tamil Nadu. They have also been detained for interrogation.
According to Indian media reports, a helicopter from INS Parundu, during a surveillance sortie, spotted a fiberglass boat with three men aboard crossing the IMBL around 11 am on Saturday (15). Though the men tried to flee back to Sri Lanka, they were reportedly chased to the shores of Arichalmunai, where they were detained by the marine police later.
The gold, in 35 bars, had been stashed inside the rear of the fiber boat. The officials had to break the boat open to recover the gold, which was handed over to customs officials in Rameswaram on Sunday, the New Indian Express reported.
The preliminary investigation identified the suspects as S Thomas Loius (31), A Suganth (26) and D Sahaya Vinistow (24) all from Talaimannar of Sri Lanka.
The men, believed to be fishermen by trade, were also questioned by the Dhanushkodi police and the Q-branch police. Based on their statements, the four Indian fishermen, who were to receive the gold, were detained for questioning.
