Vessel Smuggling 4,000 Goats & Sheep Seized Off Ratnagiri Coast

Navi Mumbai: An attempt to smuggle over 4,000 goats and sheep off the Ratnagiri coast was foiled by the Pune Customs officials along with the Indian Coast Guard. The livestock was reportedly exported in the guise of coastal cargo for supply to Gujarat.

However, the shipment was being transported to Dubai from Maharashtra’s Vijaydurg Port.

The authorities seized control of the animals, and relief work was initiated. A thorough investigation of the situation was also underway.

Unconfirmed information of probable goat and sheep smuggling out of India from the Konkan coast in Maharashtra from one of the ports was provided to the Pune Customs Commissionerate.

One of the vessels that had provided documentation indicating a coastal (domestic) cattle supply to Gujarat via sea route from Vijaydurg port to Okha Port was constantly tracked.

Authorities seized the livestock-smuggling vessel in the early hours of April 21.

Further, the ship was led to the Jaigad anchorage, where a group of Customs agents performed a comprehensive search that resulted in the confiscation of various incriminating documents that showed a plan to export live animals illegally using forged documents.

The vessel has been held for investigation along with the crew and cargo.