K. Vanniya Perumal, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Tamil Nadu Coastal Security Group (CSG), visited the coastal areas in Rameswaram island on Saturday as part of the routine inspection.
Accompanied by Rajarajan, Inspector of police, the ADGP, who was on his maiden visit to the island after assuming office, visited the marine police stations in Mandapam and Rameswaram and inspected the functioning of All Terrain Vehicle (ATV).
Mr. Perumal inspected the check-post at Muhuntharayar Chathiram and the coastal areas of Danushkodi and Arichalmunai, the eastern tip of the island. The visit assumed significance against the backdrop of reports of spurt in smuggling activities in the region.
In July, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 28 kg of gold biscuits smuggled from Sri Lanka via the sea route. The coastline in the island served as landing points for the smugglers.
Investigations into the recent seizures of huge quantities of sea cucumber, the endangered species protected under schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, also revealed that the species were smuggled to foreign countries after they were smuggled to Sri Lanka via sea route from the island.
After making the inspections, the ADGP left for Thoothukudi, marine police said. Superintendent of Police, CSG, D Ashok Kumar was away in Tirunelveli for MGR birth centenary celebrations to be held on Sunday.