Maritime Transnational Crime: An Analysis of Coastal Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Maritime Transnational Crimes are common in port cities, mostly covering crimes such as smuggling goods; illegal wildlife trade (IWT) in shipment of both flora and fauna species like pangolin meat and red sanders; smuggling of endangered marine species like sea cucumber, turtles, seahorse, shark fins, etc.; smuggling explosives in vessels and containers, illegal activities like trafficking- humans (International Maritime Broder Line- IMBL violations cases), drugs, arms and ammunitions, piracy (robbery), illegal logistics services (migrant smuggling) are also, rampant. Tamil Nadu is the second largest coastal state in peninsular India, with 13 coastal districts covering 1076 kms which shares international maritime border with South and Southeast Asian countries like Sri Lanka and Maldives. The state and central government of India in order to secure the maritime border and to prevent these crimes have engaged law enforcement agencies such as Forest Department, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Directorate of Intelligence (DRI), Customs Officials (CO), Coastal Security Group (CSG) - Marine Police, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Indian Navy. Simultaneously, the coastal communities are ushered and play a vital role in preventing Maritime Transnational Crimes in the international maritime boundaries and sea shores. Though, these attempts are effective still the transnational maritime crimes are increasing day by day in the coastal Tamil Nadu. This paper attempts to highlight the Maritime Transnational Crimes and smuggling activities in coastal Tamil Nadu and the role of coastal community in coastal security. This paper is an empirical study of descriptive nature with qualitative approach