Ahead of 45th Raising Day, Indian Coast Guard Reveals That It Seized ₹1,500 Crores Worth of Contraband in 2020

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has said that it seized ₹1,500 crores worth of contraband that was being smuggled into India via the coastline last year. Officials said that the ICG managed to intercept more than 10 foreign fishing boards carrying 80 people illegally that were operating in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone or EEZ. An officer from the ICG said that the Coast Guard has handed over the suspects to the local police station for investigation. 

Read - Mumbai Police On High Alert After Blast Outside Israeli Embassy In Delhi

Last year, Indian coastlines were hit with 11 cyclones wherein the ICG jumped into action by conducting rescue operations to rescue nearly 40,000 fishermen and escorting them to the shore. Even despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coast Guard was reportedly performing round the clock surveillance and fishing boat checks, the officer said. 

In the 44 years since its formation, the Indian Coast Guard has grown into being a powerful branch of surveillance with 62 aircraft and 156 ships. The ICG has targeted to achieve force levels of 200 surface platforms and 80 aircraft by 2025. 

Also read - State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh Shares Details Of The Proposed Cyber Crime Security Project

The Coast Guard is responsible for patrolling a distance from the shore to around 12 to 200 nautical miles in the sea. It also has the honour of being the fourth largest coast guard in the world. 

The Indian Coast Guard celebrates its 45th Raising Day on February 1. To mark the occasion, ICG officials outlined some of the achievements of the agency in keeping the Indian coastline safe. 

“During the pandemic, we maintained a round-the-clock vigil in the exclusive economic zone, by deploying around 50 ships and 12 aircraft daily. Due to the vigil, we managed to seize contraband worth about ₹1,500 crore and apprehend more than 10 foreign fishing boats with 80 miscreants illegally operating in the Indian EEZ in 2020,” a spokesperson for ICG said.

Read - Mumbai Police Ramps Up Security Amidst Farmer's Agitation