Ramanathapuram district police in Tamil Nadu have detained two Sri Lankan Tamils, allegedly engaged in gold smuggling and drug trafficking.

The two had arrived in India through ‘proper channel’ after despatching a consignment of two kg of gold through the sea route.

Acting on a tip-off, Kilakarai police detained the smugglers, identified as S. Lamudhin (40) and A. Mohamed Jasmine (35), both natives of Talaimannar, when they were on their way to Pamban to collect money for the smuggled gold, police sources said.

The police also secured two locals, M. Nawaz Khan, a member of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), and R. Murugan, a cable television operator, who helped the Lankan Tamils in the smuggling activities, and launched a hunt for two others, including a Sri Lankan Tamil, who has been living in the State for about 10 years.

Lamudhin arrived on January 15 and Jasmine on January 25 on tourist visas with a clear plan to return after collecting money for the smuggled gold and despatch an unspecified quantity of ganja via the sea route, the sources said.

The police also seized a car used for the illegal activity, a portion of the narcotic substance but yet to seize the smuggled gold.

(The Hindu)