(a) the number of cases registered against infiltrators at the Indian border through the sea route;
(b) whether drug trafficking is being done in the country through sea route; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to check infiltration and illegal trafficking?
MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI GEORGE FERNANDES)
(a) No case of infiltration has been reported through the sea route. However, the Coast Guard has apprehended 769 Poaching Vessels alongwith 7972 crew since inception.
(b) There have been no cases of drug trafficking recorded by Navy and Coast Guard.
(c) Instructions to all drug enforcement agencies to maintain utmost vigil and step up enforcement efforts, vesting of powers in Coast Guard under the Custom Act, notifying certain precursor chemical viz, Acetic Anhydride etc. as `Controlled substance` under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, quarterly co-ordination meetings by Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB), Indo-Sri Lankan bilateral talks on anti-smuggling and other related matters, are some of the steps taken by the Government to check smuggling around the coastal areas of India.