New Delhi: An attempt to illegally export as many as 3,500 livestock (goats and sheep) being illegally exported off the Ratnagiri coast was thwarted by the Pune Customs officials along with the Indian Coast Guard. The livestock was exported in the guise of coastal cargo for supply to Gujarat. However, the consignment was being taken to Dubai from Vijaydurg Port in Maharashtra.
The officials took custody of the livestock and relief action was initiated. A detailed probe into the matter was also underway, News18 reported.
The Pune Customs Commissionerate was in receipt of unconfirmed intelligence regarding the possible smuggling of goats and sheep out of India from the Konkan coast in Maharashtra from one of the ports. Discreet surveillance was maintained on one of the vessels which had submitted documents intimating coastal (domestic) supply of livestock to Gujarat, via sea route from Vijaydurg Port to Okha Port. However, when it was noticed that the vessel changed course and was headed towards Dubai, a Coast Guard vessel was deployed to intercept the vessel and bring it to Angre Port in Maharashtra where suitable facilities were available.
According to the report, the vessel smuggling the livestock was intercepted by officials in the early hours of April 21. The vessel was then escorted to Jaigad anchorage where a team of Customs officers conducted a thorough search resulting in the seizure of several incriminating documents indicating conspiracy to illegally export livestock on the basis of forged documents.
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