February 25: In a major breakthrough, eight men suspected of smuggling weapons and involved in a gun-running racket were arrested by a special squad of the Mumbai police this afternoon.The crime branch squad had spread a dragnet at Sahar International Airport since Saturday morning after the IB received a tip-off that a huge consignment of weaponry and firearms hardware was being smuggled into the city along with general cargo at the airport terminal.
Confirming the arrests, the assistant commissioner of police, D-I, L R Rao, said, ``The suspects have been running businesses at Manish Market and could have links with some Dubai-based gangs.'' He added that during interrogation, the gang members confessed that they had been smuggling large consignments using forged documents with fictitious consignees. However, the police refused to divulge the names of the arrested, saying it could hamper further investigations.
A red alert was sounded on Friday evening to intercept the contraband, confirmed IBsources. Police sharpshooters attached to the Special Operation Squad (SOS) were placed on standby in case of emergency, disclosed senior police officers. A general alert was issued informing other agencies, including the customs.
The special squad made its breakthrough as it was running a check in the cargo complex and picked up some men on suspicion. Though officials refused to confirm whether the consignment has been intercepted, interrogations allegedly point to connivance with some customs officials.
The interrogations are being conducted by ACP Rao to ascertain how many such consignments have been smuggled into the country in the past. ``Such clandestine operations cannot be carried out without the connivance of custom officials,'' he said.
The arrests assume significance in light of the fact that recent intelligence reports had indicated that a huge consignment of weapons dispatched from a Gulf country was to land at some unknown destination around Mumbai. In fact, former inspector general ofpolice, (IGP) A A Khan, had reportedly claimed that the consignment had landed near Bandra coast.
Earlier, the Coast Guard had dispatched a fleet of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) to intercept the consignment. Senior police officers, requesting anonymity said that part of the consignment could have landed on the beaches of Uran and adjoining areas of Alibag and Shrivardhan in Raigad district.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
