Bhubaneswar, April 11 -- The Indian Coast Guard has foiled an attempt to smuggle out betel nuts from India through the sea.

The Coast Guard ship 'Varad' intercepted a fishing boat during a routine surveillance in the Bay of Bengal yesterday morning.

The fishing boat was found carrying 450 bags of betel nuts, each weighing around 50 to 60 kg. The market value of the betel nuts is estimated to be around Rs 1 crore.

The fishing boat, IFB Maa Basanti (Regd. No. IND-WB-DS-MM-10023) registered at Kakdwip fishing harbor in West Bengal, was carrying the betel nuts without any valid documents, said the Indian Coast Guard today.

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All 14 crew members of the fishing boat were not in possession of any valid bio-metric cards. No fishi...