Courtesy Adaderana

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India conducted searches at multiple locations in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, in the Vizhinjam arms recovery case, where heroin and arms were seized from six Sri Lankan nationals in March this year.

NIA teams conducted searches at seven locations, spread across Chennai and Tiruvallur districts in Tamil Nadu, and Ernakulam district in Kerala, at the premises of the accused and suspects involved in the trafficking of arms, ammunition and narcotics from Iran and Pakistan to Sri Lanka.

The case was originally registered by the Vizhinjam police against six Sri Lankan nationals following their arrest and the seizure of 300 kg of heroin, 5 AK-47 guns and 1,000 live rounds from their boat by the Indian Coast Guard during patrolling, off the Vizhinjam coast in the Arabian sea on March 18, 2021.

The NIA took over the investigation and arrested two more accused persons, Suresh and Soundarajan, on August 2, 2021.

During the searches, various incriminating documents, including books relating to the proscribed terrorist organisation Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), seven digital devices including mobile phones, SIM cards and tablets were seized, the agency said in a statement.

Source: The Hindu