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The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in a joint operation with the Indian Coast Guard seized 218 kg of heroin from two boats in a mid-sea drug bust off the coast of Lakshadweep Islands, according to information provided by the finance ministry today.&nbsp;</p>
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According to sources, the street value of the heroin would be over Rs 1,500 crore.</p>
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An operation was launched by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) after it developed specific intelligence over a period of several months that two Indian boats would be sailing from the coast of Tamil Nadu and would receive a huge quantity of narcotics somewhere in the Arabian sea, during the second or third week of May 2022.</p>
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Accordingly, a joint operation of DRI with Indian Coast Guard (ICG) codenamed Operation Khojbeen was launched on 7th May 2022. Under the operation, Coast Guard ship Sujeet, with DRI officials onboard, maintained a close watch near the country&rsquo;s Exclusive Economic Zone.</p>
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After several days of continuous search and monitoring amidst very rough seas, two suspected vessels &ldquo;Prince&rdquo; and &ldquo;Little Jesus&rdquo; were noticed moving towards India. Both the Indian boats were intercepted by officers of the Coast Guard and DRI on 18th May 2022, off the coast of Lakshadweep Islands.</p>
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On questioning, some of the crew members in the boats confessed that they had received a huge quantity of heroin on the high sea and that they had concealed it in both the boats. The boats were then escorted to Kochi for further legal proceedings.</p>
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<strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp; <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/india-news/rs-crore-worth-heroin-seized-in-dri-swoop-at-delhi-airport-s-cargo-complex-170309.html">Rs 434 crore worth heroin seized in DRI swoop at Delhi Airport&rsquo;s cargo complex</a></p>
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