‘Sea route for smuggling not new’

S Ahmed Ali TNN

April 7, 2013

Mumbai: A probe into the contraband aboard dhow Yusufi, which was intercepted at Hey Bandar on Thursday, has revealed that it is not the first time that illegal goods were being smuggled into India from Dubai through the water route.
    Sources said had the Intelligence Bureau (IB) not alerted all the security agencies, the accused would have succeeded in smuggling the contraband. On March 28, the IB flashed an alert, stating that one Hiretbhai had sailed through the Pakistan border in Kutch, carrying an “amanat”, and was heading towards Mumbai.
    But every security agency interpreted the word “amanat” differently. While one believed it to be AK-47, another thought it was RDX. Only the Mumbai police “learnt” that it was a consignment of banned cigarettes for Haji Usmanbhai Gacchi. “Gacchi is not a small fry. He smuggles goods well in advance and has everything set right. He was confident that his consignment would reach the destination,” said a source.
    Two others, Ayub and Chhota Noora from Manish Market area who deal in imported cigarettes, have been identified, said an officer. The duo, who stays in the slums at Antop Hill, had taken a loan of Rs 1 crore to place orders for the smuggled cigarettes. Gacchi, Ayub and Noora have all gone into hiding after the dhow was intercepted.
    The Mumbai police have detained 31 goats, which came on the dhow, at a makeshift shelter in Dockyard. “Veterinary doctors are checking the animals for any disease, after which, they will issue certification. We have formed teams to trace Gacchi and others,” said Pandurang Dhoke, senior inspector of Yellow gate police station.
    On learning that the accused had thrown their satellite phone into the sea, the ATS pulled up its officers. The accused had got the phone from Dubai and had come under the IB radar only due to its presence on the dhow.
    On April 4, Gujarat-registered dhow Yusufi was intercepted and 447 cartons of imported cigarettes, two LCD TVs, liquor, mobile accessories and 32 goats were seized. Five persons who were on the boat, Ahmed Paleja (45), Iqbal Umi (41), Yaqoob Thakara (43), Abdul Mandwani (32) and Yunus Bolim (31), have been remanded in police custody till April 10.

IN CHOPPY WATERS:Dhow Yusufi