The Coastal Security Group Police today said it would strengthen its Intelligence network to prevent smuggling by enrolling 65 more fishermen as informers.
CSG Additional Director General of Police Shylendra Babu told reporters here after a review meeting that the fishermen would be enrolled by CSG to help in patrolling and giving information about the movement of smugglers. They would be trained in passing on information instantly, he said.
The CSG had been given four wheel drive vehicles for patrolling the sandy sea coast.
Prevention of crimes in coastal areas, which included smuggling of endangered marine wildlife species, ganja and heroin was also discussed, he said.
Babu said four more coastal police stations would be set up soon in Ramanathapuram district and 30 others all over the coastal areas of the state, managed by CSG.
There was a plan to allot more boats for Ramanathapuram district in view of its sensitive location, he said.
Babu claimed that smuggling had been curtailed to a great extent. However CSG had to be careful as such activities are centred in islets in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Straits.
He said there was a plan for an coordinated security arrangement involving the other forces, including Coast Guard, to monitor the islets and bring them under security cover.
Police had already detained four persons under Goondas act for smuggling periodically, he added.
