Mumbai: Acting on a tip-off, the Indian Coast Guard and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in a joint operation in Mumbai seized 23 tonne red sanders worth Rs 9 crore while it was being smuggled to Dubai through the sea route.
At least 20 persons have been arrested in the case.
Rajendra Rajputran, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Coast Guard, said that the Indian Coast Guard was alerted after receiving specific intelligence inputs on December 2 about smuggling of red sanders by sea.
The Coast Guard had pressed its ships and aircraft into action for surveillance and patrolling, he said.
As per the reports, Barge MV Ganga Sagar had sailed from Sewri with the illegal consignment and it was to transfer it to another dhow, Al Marwan -- sailed from Veraval port in Gujarat. It showed that the 100 metric tonnes of maize on it was to be sailed to Dubai. The arrangement was that MV Ganga Sagar and Al Marwan will meet at Bombay High to transfer the 23 tonne red sanders.
When the consignment was being transferred from MV Ganga Sagar to Al Marwan, lights of the dhows were put off confirming Indian officials suspicions about the smuggling of red sanders.
The vessels were apprehended about 72 miles southwest of Mumbai.